Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-jl) -- As the deadline to the current term of the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) nears, representatives from the United States and Peru are growing concerned over the lack of breakthroughs between U.S. Democrats and Republicans in U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement ratification talks.

That makes Peruvian President Alan Garcia's upcoming visit to Washington D.C. crucial to providing a spark to stalling ratification efforts, according to Peru's Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Araoz.

While on an official visit in Pakistan, Araoz revealed that the Peruvian leader's intervention will send an "excellent signal" that would demonstrate Peru's sincere intention of achieving the bilateral trade agreement.

The Foreign Trade Minister declared that there is a necessity to show United States officials that Peru can be an excellent commercial and strategic partner in the region.

Just last month, officials from the United States White House informed that President Garcia will visit U.S. President Bush on April 23, making it the second official meeting between both presidents.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino commented that the meeting will "highlight the friendship and cooperation" between both countries as well as as being an "excellent opportunity for President Bush to continue building his relationship with a key regional ally who is committed to democracy."

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