US embassy cable - 05LIMA4645

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 004645 
 
SIPDIS 
 
BUENOS AIRES PLEASE PASS TO SOA USDEL 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, ETRD, KSUM, PE 
SUBJECT: PERU PRESSING FOR PRO-FTA STATEMENT FOLLOWING 
MEETING WITH POTUS AT THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Alexander Margulies.  Reason:  1.4(b 
/d). 
 
1.  (C)  Foreign Minister Oscar Maurtua, during a 10/28 
breakfast hosted by the Ambassador, reiterated Peru's 
interest in using the meeting at the Summit of the Americas 
between the Andean Presidents and POTUS to advance the FTA 
process.  The Ambassador noted that USTR Portman is the 
person who would handle any "political-level" final issues in 
the FTA negotiation and Peru would be barking up the wrong 
tree in trying to cast President Bush in such a role. 
Maurtua took the point, but stated that at the very least the 
GOP would like to see the presidents issue a statement 
reaffirming their continued strong commitment to conclude an 
Andean-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.  He stressed that the GOP 
needs a strong "political gesture" to fortify its domestic 
pro-FTA lobbying efforts and publicity campaign. 
 
2.  (C)  Maurtua added that Peru's delegation to the meeting 
with POTUS will consist of President Alejandro Toledo, First 
Lady Eliane Karp (in her function as Presidential Advisor, 
not/not as First Lady), Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, 
Maurtua himself, and either Foreign Trade Minister Alfredo 
Ferrero or Peru's Ambassador to Washington Eduardo Ferrero 
(who is pressing to be included). 
STRUBLE