MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru’s Humala interested in joining “political” mechanisms of Mercosur

President-elect Humala in family picture with the Mujicas

Peru is interested in regional integration, security, education, combating narcotics but full membership of Mercosur is “distant” said president elect Ollanta Humala during a one day visit to Uruguay, before leaving late Monday for Argentina.

“We want to build on a positive regional agenda based on integration but full membership of Mercosur is distant because Peru has at least ten free trade agreements with other countries and that means tariff problems, which can’t be overcome in the short term”, said Humala during a conference press following a meeting with President Jose Mujica.

However he promised to work for closer relations with all Mercosur member countries participating in the political mechanisms of the group. “This means an agenda that includes integration, security, combating narcotics and education”.

Pressed on his alleged ‘move to the political centre’ during the electoral campaign and what ‘model’ his administration would follow (Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador), Humala said that “in the world there is only one country with the name of Peru, and there are no two countries identical. What we can do and will do is look for the positive experiences of other countries and see how we can apply them in Peru. What is essential is to maintain and increase economic growth which guarantees social inclusion”, said president elect Humala.

Humala late Sunday arrived in Uruguay’s Carrasco airport just minutes before the volcanic ash cloud forced the grounding of all flights. But on Monday evening he had to advance his departure by ferry to Buenos Aires cancelling an official banquet because the ash cloud again closed all air activity until further notice.

Humala so far has visited Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, on Tuesday Argentina and from Buenos Aires will move to Chile. A second regional tour in scheduled for the following week and includes Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela.

Following the meeting with President Mujica, Humala praised the experience of the Uruguayan leader whom he invited to his inauguration ceremony July 28. Mujica, 76, is a former guerrilla leader who spent twelve years in jail.

“Anybody who speaks to President Mujica takes away something extra”, said Humala who added he is “a very wise and experienced man”

The Peruvian president-elect said that in a globalized world it is important to look to South America as “a space of opportunities, markets and investments” to help address problems that are common to the region such education, security and health schemes.

Finally Humala admitted he is willing to consider a pardon for former president Alberto Fujimori who has been sentenced to 25 years in jail on corruption and human rights violations charges and who has been taken to a clinic because of health problems.

“It’s not an issue in the agenda, but I have always said that nobody should die in jail and I believe that anybody willing understands what I mean”, concluded Humala.