MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peruvian elected president invited to Chile this week

Peruvian elected president Alan Garcia will be visiting Chile next Thursday specially invited by his counterpart Michelle Bachelet.

This would be Mr. Garcia second overseas visit since elected; the first was last week to Brazil to meet with President Lula da Silva.

The purpose of the visit is to establish closer links with the incoming Peruvian administration, as part of the Bachelet administration's policy of improving relations with all countries in the region, said reliable diplomatic sources in Santiago, according to the Chilean press.

"It's not my intention to have the carriage before the horses and pop up in Santiago with an agenda of issues. I haven't taken office yet so I'm going to establish links and familiarize with Chilean officials so when the time comes we can address pending issues", said Garcia in Lima.

Chile and Peru have pending maritime, historic and border issues, plus the traditional Pacific rivalry.

"It's only natural I will defend Peru's interests. They are national problems for Peru but I will do so with intelligence and cunningly", he added.

"But what is basic is that together with Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela we must defend and consolidate the democratic system, the rule of the law, human rights and respect for freedom. This democratic and social coincidence is what must be jointly consolidated so we can prosper and develop together"

Last week Chile's Foreign Affairs minister Alejandro Foxley said it was "of utmost interest for Chile a close relation with the new Peruvian administration", adding that talks to wrap up an economic complementation treaty "were almost finalized".

"Relations with the neighbour country are good and we're going to work to make them even better", said Foxley who recalled that the incoming Peruvian president has stated in "all possible ways that he wants a good and constructive relation with Chile".

In Lima Garcia also warned the Peruvian political establishment and bureaucracy that a period of political accountability and austerity lies ahead.

"The political map of the country is a true picture of the current government that is coming to an end: over half of Peru lives in extreme poverty, the disenchantment with the political system is serious and so is the rejection almost rebellion against the political class abuses", underlined Alan Garcia.

The incoming president has promised to half his salary and of bureaucrats' incomes plus reducing the number of embassies with the purpose of collecting resources to fight poverty.