MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Humala's political advisor meets Chilean officials

The political advisor to Peru's leading presidential candidate, Ollanta Humala, met secretly last Wednesday with Chile's future ambassador for Peru, Cristián Barros. The meeting was an attempt to consolidate bilateral links and prove Humala has no anti-Chile agenda.

Peruvian businessman and key figure in the Humala nexus, Salomón Lerner, met with Barros in Santiago's exclusive Ritz Hotel to supposedly discuss binominal diplomatic relations. But Lerner allegedly addressed a more political agenda when he provided a detailed analysis of his country's upcoming national elections, reported La Tercera.

Also present at the meeting was Lerner's friend and former advisor to Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, Esteban Silva and, Osvaldo Puccio ? former government spokesman for Chile's Lagos administration and future ambassador for Spain ? who has known Lerner for a number of years.

Lerner, who was visiting Santiago to attend the Fidae 2006 air show for personal business reasons, said that Humala would most likely win Peru's second round of voting and as president would wish to maintain diplomatic harmony with Chile.

The meeting comes after Humala's much publicized criticism of Chilean investment "invading" the country, citing Chilean-owned airline Lan's monopoly in Peru. He promised to create a rival national airline if elected president.

The 42-year-old former army officer also made jibes about Chile's recent acquisition of armaments saying, "We're concerned with all the arms purchases of Chile, when I believe the priority for Latin America should be development, education, health."

Chilean Defense Minister Vivianne Blanlot defended the purchases as part of a process of updating and renewing old equipment.

Humala appears to have rethought his antagonistic rhetoric when in a recent television interview in Peru he prioritized diplomatic relations with Chile. "I will work hand to hand with Ms Bachelet seeking a bilateral integration policy. We're not anti Chilean, we hold no resentment against Chile. The fact is we want to build a mutual respect relation," said Humala of his possible ascension to power.

In Peru's latest opinion polls nationalist candidate Humala won 31.5%, while runner up conservative Lourdes Flores received just 26.8%.

Candidates will face the first round of voting on Sunday April 9. Humala, whose support base is concentrated in poorer rural areas, is not expected to win more than 50 percent of first round votes. The two candidates with the highest number of votes will face each other in a second round on May 7.

To many "he represents the last chance to fight poverty and prevent a violent revolution in Peru. If he fails, the whole country will go up in flames," said Humala's vice-presidential running mate Gonzalo Garcia.

Cristina Dunn - The Santiago Times - News about Chile