MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile apologizes for Lan Peru video incident

Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker said Tuesday that tourism video shown onboard flights of the Peruvian affiliate of Chilean flag carrier Lan highlighting crime dangers and public-health problems in Lima had been “foolish”.

In a radio interview in Santiago Mr. Walker said Lan Peru was well aware that showing the video onboard its flights had been a terrible mistake and that the company had apologized in a statement published in Peruvian newspapers.

"They are quite aware that this was to say the least, foolish. However, I would like to point out that the video was ordered to the DMX Inflight Company from Los Angeles, (Pilot Guide: Peru) which also was distributed among other airlines", indicated Mr. Walker. "Actually it was being aired by all airlines flying to Peru".

However Mr. Walker underlined he saw no reason for the air carrier to pay compensation to those who felt offended by the video and insisted that the video incident should in any way "affect Chilean-Peruvian free-trade talks".

"The press information was specifically denied, we're on a very good footing with the trade negotiations", said Mr. Walker.

On Monday, Lan Peru management met with Peruvian legislators and Cabinet ministers to discuss the video, but the company refused to comment on the outcome of the meeting. Lan Peru described the incident as an "involuntary mistake".

Apparently Lan Peru has promised to finance a new video highlighting the country's attractions such as its folklore, rich archaeological past, Indian culture and the later European influence when Lima was capital of the Spanish South Pacific viceroy.

The original video shows an Indian urinating in a Lima street, mountains of garbage, children begging and hanging from public transport buses, "denigrating" Peru's international image.

However Peruvian Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Alfredo Ferrero and several Congress members are demanding legal actions against Lan Chile's subsidiary.

Lan Peru employs 1,800 workers and operates eleven domestic and eleven international routes a day.