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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

According to El Comercio, the Head of Chilean Air Force (FACH) Gen. Ricardo Ortega, declared that the capture of the spy Victor Ariza Mendoza “proves that Alan Garcias's goverment has an interest on provoking La Moneda.” (La Moneda is the name of Chile's Governmental Palace).

Declaring to Chilean press, Gen. Ortega said after the arrest of Air Force NCO Victor Ariza Mendoza, that it is a “response to interests that are way beyond my capabilities of analysis.”

He remarked, however, that "anyone with a little intelligence will realize that there is an interest to create 'noise' that affects us as a country."

He said that "it is no coincidence" that the spy's arrest has occurred just when the US announced that they would authorize FACH to purchase missiles AIM-120C-7 for the 18 F-16 planes that Chile will buy in Netherlands.

"At this stage of the game, I don't believe in coincidences," Ortega said.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Patricio Tapia, a conspicuous Chilean journalist specialized in wine, gave up to the Peruvian pisco: he published an article last week at Wikén magazine of El Mercurio paper, admitting that Peruvian pisco sour is better than the Chilean one.

"Ours is lemon juice of pisco. That's it," he wrote; adding that only in Peru we get that "voluptuous and refreshing mixture of acidity and a sensation of creaminess.”

Tapia analyzes the differences between our pisco and the Chilean one. "The quebranta, which is the base of the most traditional Peruvian piscos, seems to not exist in our country." Tapia explains that in Chile is a common practice to mix stocks, in Peru it's done in a specific way. The acholado pisco always uses aromatic grapes with stocks with more body.

Peruvian pisco isn't brought up in kegs, as the Chilean one, but in steel or plastic crock or in the traditional chalk jar to not to distort the expression of the stock. And one more detail: the year of vintage is indicated at our pisco bottles.

Another important difference is that in Peru water is not needed to lower the level of alcohol. "Peruvians feel it as a sacrilege because it distorts the character of the distillation, so they choose the portion suitable to the gradation of their pisco."

Finally Tapia says Peruvian pisco is more rich and diverse, due to the number of national farmers who try to give a high quality pisco.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister, Martin Perez, had a meeting with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

Until now, Peruvian investment in Chile is worth US$2,500 millions, informed Perez, who is leading a business mission to Chile.

He added that, according to Proinversión, Chilean capitals investments in Peru amount US$6,000 million.

On the other side, the biggest Peruvian investors in Chile are Brescia Group (which bought cement company Lafarge), Romero Group (Bank of Credit and Chile's Investments' partner) and Wong Group (Cencosud stockholder).

There are also 120 Peruvian restaurants and other seven companies are planning to open in Chile.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

According to Bolivia's Ambassador to Peru, Franz Solano, his country has “open doors” for listening to Peru's proposal on regional disarmament.

"Bolivia's doors are open to analyze this proposal, in the frame of peace, brotherhood and development of the peoples," ambassador Solano told the press.

He also said that Bolivia is a country that loves peace and does not like any arms buildup in South America. Bolivia would always support initiatives to reduce excessive arms expenses and boost the fight against poverty, Solano declared.

However, international press reported recently that Bolivia made a major purchase of military equipment worth over US $100 million dollars.

Peru is currently promoting a campaign against arms buildup in the region.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister, Martín Pérez, flew to Santiago today along with a bussiness mission (representants of local companies) in order to to participate at a trade fair in Chile.

Companies going along Pérez belong to tourism, silversmithing, textile, gastronomy and agroindustry sectors.

Pérez got in an Air Force of Peru plane along 85 bussinessmen and 15 civilian employees to participate Wednesday and Thurday at the "Expo Peru" fair, where the Peruvian bussinessmen will present their exportable offer and investment possibilities.

Another group of bussinessmen will join the mission at Santiago to be part of an exhibition of 90 Peruvian companies related to tourism, agriculture and textiles, silver jewerlry and gastronomy.

The Foreign Trade Minister will have a meeting tomorrow with Chile's Minister of Economy, Hugo Lavados, as well as with Chancellor Mariano Fernández, to talk about investment and opportunities in the Peruvian market.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Rafael Correa called the meeting he had today with with Alan García “an unprecedented event in the world and the history of mankind"

"This meeting was extremely fruitful," said the Ecuadorian president, highlighting their commitment to continue working together as a nation. "Our people have lost much time in war," he said.

In turn, President Alan García declared too about this meeting held today in the northern city of Piura.

"It's never been any sustained work like this in the history of Latin American politics, and in world politics as well,” remarked the head of state.

"This an unprecedented experience in recent history. We are working in achieving eternal friendship,” said García. Garcia Perez also invited his counterpart to make an official visit to Peru

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's President Alan García asked today his Ecuadorian counterpart, Rafael Correa, to lead the reduction in military purchases in the region, with the aim of designating these resources to fight against poverty.

He said this during the opening of the Binational Encounter Peru-Ecuador, which is currently taking place in Piura (Peru).

Garcia reiterated his proposals of disarmament in the region, the same ones he already presented in the last meeting of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) last August.

“I believe that History and God have put Ecuador and Peru, you and me, in the same place, to take the first step of this journey. We have nothing dividing us, nor parting us; right now we are together and with the same illusions for the future. So we could start giving an example, using all our resources to go to employment, justice and welfare of the poorest,” said García.

He emphasized during the last five years, countries in the region have spent US $ 23 billion purchasing armaments, and if the tendency continues, this could rise up to US $35 billion.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Chilean government is requesting France to make a public clarification the touristic map reportedly elaborated by the Geographic Institute of France (IGN), that coincides with Peru's proposal for the maritime borderlines with Chile.

The map was printed today in El Comercio (Lima) which maintains that it would back the Peruvian position on the lawsuit it has with Chile at The Hague International Court,

According to El Comercio, this line “establishes as the border where Peru is requesting to The Hague.” that is, to set the borderline from an equidistant line and not from a parallel one as Chile wants.

Chilean Minister Viera-Gallo told the media that his government gave instructions to Chile's ambassador in France, Pilar Armanet, “to demand a clarification regarding that map.”

The Peruvian thesis would add to its territory more than 35,000 km2 that have been under Chilean sovereignity up to now.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Foreign trade and Tourism Minister Martín Pérez met with Brazilian bussinessmen and promoted tourist destinations and advantage of Perú.

In a meeting held in Sao Paulo with bussinessmen and Brazilian tourist promoters, Pérez explained actions taken by PromPerú, organization in charge of promotion and diffusion of Perú, and the scope of the new General Law of Tourism issued by Peruvian Government.

Pérez's agenda also included meetings with Brazilian representatives of the commercial and industrial sectors.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Chilean Lawyer Cristian Espejo (UDI) said it is necesary to deport Peruvians staying illegally in Chile.

Espejo, a candidate to Congress for Santiago remarked that the measure should be tough on those who cannot regularize their legal immigration status.

The lawyer remarked that Peruvian immigration to Santiago has turned into a bad immigration; "I say this  very respectfully," he added.

The leader also remarked that Peruvian immigrants use social and health security systems that should be for Chilean workers.

The great number of ilegal Peruvian workers had provoked that many people cannot get necesary medical attention from the social services.

He demanded not to be misunderstood: "It is not about xenophobia, neither extreme nationalism, but talking with the true."

On Novembre 2007 Michelle Bachelet's government opened a regularization process for thousands of Peruvian workers at Chile.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.