Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

José Antonio García Belaunde (right), Peru's minister of foreign affairs arrived to Santiago de Chile this morning after President Michelle Bachelet called for a meeting of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

García Belaunde explained President Alan Garcia could not attend the meeting personally because congress had not authorized him to.

"President Garcia must have the authorization of congress to leave the country and the invitation to participate in UNASUR arrived over the weekend, when the legislative branch was not working," explained Minister García Belaunde.

The meeting, which is gathering nine regional leaders, including Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was called after violent protests broke out in Bolivia.

Also present are the presidents of Colombia - Álvaro Uribe, Ecuador - Rafael Correa, Uruguay - Tabaré Vázquez and Venezuela - Hugo Chávez.

The heads of state are to be joined by Jose Miguel Insulza, Secretary- General of the Organization of American States, who has affirmed he is "profoundly worried" about Bolivia.

Opposing a new Bolivian constitution, protesters have blocked roads, seized government offices and severed a pipeline to interrupt natural gas supplies to Brazil.