PROFILEOfficial Name:
Republic of Peru
Geography
Area: 1.28 million sq. km. (496,225 sq. mi.); three times larger than
California.
Cities: Capital--Lima/Callao metropolitan area (pop. 8.27
million, 2000).
Other cities--Arequipa, Chiclayo, Cuzco, Huancayo, Truujillo,
Ayacucho, Piura, Iquitos, Chimbote.
Terrain: Western coastal plains, central rugged mountains (Andes),
eastern lowlands with tropical forests.
Climate: Coastal area, arid and mild; Andes, temperate to frigid;
eastern lowlands, tropically warm and humid.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Peruvian(s).
Population (2000 est.): 25.7 million (72.3 % urban).
Annual growth rate (2000 est.): 1.7%.
Ethnic groups (1961): Indian 45%. Mestizo 37%. White 15%. Black,
Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%.
Religion (1993): Roman Catholic (89%).
Languages: Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara and a large
number of minor Amazonian languages.
Education: Years compulsory--11. Literacy--about 87.5%
(1999).
Health (2000): Infant mortality rate--37/1,000. Life
expectancy--67 male; 72 female.
Employed work force (1999, 7.2 million): Manufacturing--12.7%;
commerce--26.4%; agriculture--5.8%; mining--0.4%;
construction--5.2%; government--9.1% (est.); other
services--40.4%.
Government
Type: Constitutional republic.
Independence: 1821.
Constitution: December 1993.
Branches: Executive--president, two vice presidents, Council of
Ministers. Legislative--unicameral Congress. Judicial--Supreme
Court and lower courts, Tribunal of Constitutional Guarantees.
Administrative subdivisions: 12 regions, 24 departments, 1
constitutional province.
Political parties and movements: Peru Possible, National Unity, We Are
Peru, Change 90/New Majority/Let's Go Neighbor/People's Solution, Union
For Peru (UPF), American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA),
Independent Moralizing Front (FIM), Popular Christian Party (PPC),
Popular Action (AP).
Suffrage: Universal over 18; compulsory until age 70 (members of the
military may not vote).
Flag:
Economy (2000)
GDP (est.): $53.9 billion.
Annual growth rate: 3.6%.
Per capita GDP: $2,101.
Inflation rate: 3.8%.
Natural resources: Minerals, metals, fish, petroleum, natural gas, and
forests.
Agriculture (7% of GDP): Products--sugar, potatoes, rice, yellow
corn, cotton, coffee, poultry, beef, milk.
Manufacturing (15% of GDP): Types--fish meal, nonferrous metals,
steel, textiles, chemicals, wood, nonmetallic minerals, cement, paper.
Trade: Exports--$7.0 billion: gold, copper, fishmeal, textiles,
zinc, lead, coffee, petroleum products. Major markets--U.S.
(29%), U.K. (9%), Switzerland (9%), Japan (4%) Germany (4%). Imports--$7.3
billion: machinery and parts, cereals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, crude
oil and petroleum products, mining equipment, household appliances and
automobiles. Major suppliers--U.S. (27%), Andean Pact countries
(16%), Argentina (3%), EU (16%), and Japan (7%).
PEOPLE
Most Peruvians are "mestizo," a term that usually refers to a
mixture of Amerindians and Peruvians of European descent. Peruvians of
European descent make up about 15% of the population; there also are
smaller numbers of persons of African, Japanese, and Chinese descent. In
the past decade, Peruvians of Asian heritage have made significant
advancements in business and political fields; a past president, several
past cabinet members, and several members of the Peruvian congress are
of Japanese or Chinese descent. Socioeconomic and cultural indicators
are increasingly important as identifiers. For example, Peruvians of
Amerindian descent who have adopted aspects of Hispanic culture also are
considered "mestizo." With economic development, access to education,
intermarriage, and largescale migration from rural to urban areas, a
more homogeneous national culture is developing, mainly along the
relatively more prosperous coast.
Peru has two official languages--Spanish and the foremost indigenous
language, Quechua. Spanish is used by the government and the media and
in education and commerce. Amerindians who live in the Andean highlands
speak Quechua and Aymara and are ethnically distinct from the diverse
indigenous groups who live on the eastern side of the Andes and in the
tropical lowlands adjacent to the Amazon basin.
Peru's distinct geographical regions are mirrored in a socioeconomic
divide between the coast's mestizo-Hispanic culture and the more
diverse, traditional Andean cultures of the mountains and highlands. The
indigenous populations east of the Andes speak various languages and
dialects. Some of these groups still adhere to traditional customs,
while others have been almost completely assimilated into the mestizo-Hispanic
culture.
Education
Under the 1993 constitution, primary education is free and
compulsory. The system is highly centralized, with the Ministry of
Education appointing all public school teachers. Eighty-three percent of
Peru's students attend public schools at all levels.
School enrollment has been rising sharply for years, due to a
widening educational effort by the government and a growing school-age
population. The illiteracy rate is estimated at 12.5% (17.4% for women),
28.0% in rural areas and 5.6% in urban areas. Elementary and secondary
school enrollment is approximately 7.7 million. Peru's 74 universities
(1999), 39% public and 61% private institutions, enrolled about 322,000
students in 1999.
Culture
The relationship between Hispanic and Indian cultures has shaped the
face of Peru. During pre-Columbian times, Peru was one of the major
centers of artistic expression in America, where pre-Inca cultures, such
as Chavin, Paracas, Wari, Nazca, Chimu, and Tiahuanaco developed
high-quality pottery, textiles, jewelry, and sculpture. Drawing upon
earlier cultures, the Incas continued to maintain these crafts but made
even more impressive achievements in architecture. The mountain town of
Machu Picchu and the buildings at Cuzco are excellent examples of Inca
architectural design.
Peru has passed through various intellectual stages--from colonial
Hispanic culture to European Romanticism after independence. The early
20th century brought "indigenismo," expressed in a new awareness of
Indian culture. Since World War II, Peruvian writers, artists, and
intellectuals have participated in worldwide intellectual and artistic
movements, drawing especially on U.S. and European trends.
During the colonial period, Spanish baroque fused with the rich Inca
tradition to produce mestizo or creole art. The Cusco school of largely
anonymous Indian artists followed the Spanish baroque tradition with
influence from the Italian, Flemish, and French schools. Painter
Francisco Fierro made a distinctive contribution to this school with his
portrayals of typical events, manners, and customs of mid-19th-century
Peru. Francisco Lazo, forerunner of the indigenous school of painters,
also achieved fame for his portraits. Peru's 20th-century art is known
for its extraordinary variety of styles and stunning originality.
In the decade after 1932, the "indigenous school" of painting headed
by Jose Sabogal dominated the cultural scene in Peru. A subsequent
reaction among Peruvian artists led to the beginning of modern Peruvian
painting. Sabogal's resignation as director of the National School of
Arts in 1943 coincided with the return of several Peruvian painters from
Europe who revitalized "universal" and international styles of painting
in Peru. During the 1960s, Fernando de Szyszlo, an internationally
recognized Peruvian artist, became the main advocate for abstract
painting and pushed Peruvian art toward modernism. Peru remains an
art-producing center with painters such as Gerardo Chavez, Alberto
Quintanilla, and Jose Carlos Ramos, along with sculptor Victor Delfin,
gaining international stature. Promising young artists continue to
develop now that Peru's economy allows more promotion of the arts.
HISTORY
When the Spanish landed in 1531, Peru's territory was the nucleus of
the highly developed Inca civilization. Centered at Cuzco, the Inca
Empire extended over a vast region from northern Ecuador to central
Chile. In search of Inca wealth, the Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro,
who arrived in the territory after the Incas had fought a debilitating
civil war, conquered the weakened people. The Spanish had captured the
Incan capital at Cuzco by 1533 and consolidated their control by 1542.
Gold and silver from the Andes enriched the conquerors, and Peru became
the principal source of Spanish wealth and power in South America.
Pizarro founded Lima in 1535. The viceroyalty established at Lima in
1542 initially had jurisdiction over all of South America except
Portuguese Brazil. By the time of the wars of independence (1820-24),
Lima had become the most distinguished and aristocratic colonial capital
and the chief Spanish stronghold in America.
Peru's independence movement was led by Jose de San Martin of
Argentina and Simon Bolivar of Venezuela. San Martin proclaimed Peruvian
independence from Spain on July 28, 1821. Emancipation was completed in
December 1824, when Gen. Antonio Jose de Sucre defeated the Spanish
troops at Ayacucho, ending Spanish rule in South America. Spain made
futile attempts to regain its former colonies, but in 1879 it finally
recognized Peru's independence.
After independence, Peru and its neighbors engaged in intermittent
territorial disputes. Chile's victory over Peru and Bolivia in the War
of the Pacific (1879-83) resulted in a territorial settlement. Following
a clash between Peru and Ecuador in 1941, the Rio Protocol--of which the
United States is one of four guarantors--sought to establish the
boundary between the two countries. Continuing boundary disagreement led
to brief armed conflicts in early 1981 and early 1995, but in 1998 the
governments of Peru and Ecuador signed a historic peace treaty and
demarcated the border. In late 1999, the governments of Peru and Chile
likewise finally implemented the last outstanding article of their 1929
border agreement.
The military has been prominent in Peruvian history. Coups have
repeatedly interrupted civilian constitutional government. The most
recent period of military rule (1968-80) began when Gen. Juan Velasco
Alvarado overthrew elected President Fernando Belaunde Terry of the
Popular Action Party (AP). As part of what has been called the "first
phase" of the military government's nationalist program, Velasco
undertook an extensive agrarian reform program and nationalized the fish
meal industry, some petroleum companies, and several banks and mining
firms.
Because of Velasco's economic mismanagement and deteriorating health,
he was replaced by Gen. Francisco Morales Bermudez Cerruti in 1975.
Morales Bermudez moved the revolution into a more pragmatic "second
phase," tempering the authoritarian abuses of the first phase and
beginning the task of restoring the country's economy. Morales Bermudez
presided over the return to civilian government in accordance with a new
constitution drawn up in 1979. In the May 1980 elections, President
Belaunde Terry was returned to office by an impressive plurality.
Nagging economic problems left over from the military government
persisted, worsened by an occurrence of the "El Niño" weather
phenomenon in 1982-83, which caused widespread flooding in some parts of
the country, severe droughts in others, and decimated the schools of
ocean fish that are one of the country's major resources. After a
promising beginning, Belaunde's popularity eroded under the stress of
inflation, economic hardship, and terrorism.
During the 1980s, cultivation of illicit coca was established in
large areas on the eastern Andean slope. Rural terrorism by Sendero
Luminoso (SL) and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA)
increased during this time and derived significant financial support
from alliances with the narcotraffickers. In 1985, the American Popular
Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) won the presidential election, bringing
Alan Garcia Perez to office. The transfer of the presidency from
Belaunde to Garcia on July 28, 1985, was Peru's first exchange of power
from one democratically elected leader to another in 40 years.
Economic mismanagement by the Garcia administration led to
hyperinflation from 1988 to 1990. Concerned about the economy, the
increasing terrorist threat from Sendero Luminoso, and allegations of
official corruption, voters chose a relatively unknown
mathematician-turned-politician, Alberto Fujimori, as president in 1990.
Fujimori implemented drastic orthodox measures that caused inflation to
drop from 7,650% in 1990 to 139% in 1991. Faced with opposition to his
reform efforts, Fujimori dissolved Congress in the "auto-coup" of April
4, 1992. He then revised the constitution; called new congressional
elections; and implemented substantial economic reform, including
privatization of numerous state-owned companies, creation of an
investment-friendly climate, and sound management of the economy.
Fujimori’s constitutionally questionable decision to seek a third
term and subsequent tainted victory in June 2000 brought political and
economic turmoil. A bribery scandal that broke just weeks after he took
office in July forced Fujimori to call new elections in which he would
not run. Fujimori fled the country and resigned from office in November
2000. A caretaker government presided over by Valentin Paniagua Corazao
took on the responsibility of conducting new presidential and
congressional elections, scheduled for April 2001. The new elected
government will take office July 28, 2001.
GOVERNMENT
The president is popularly elected for a 5-year term, and the 1993
constitution permits one consecutive re-election. The first and second
vice presidents also are popularly elected but have no constitutional
functions unless the president is unable to discharge his duties. The
principal executive body is the Council of Ministers, headed by a prime
minister, all appointed by the president. All presidential decree laws
or draft bills sent to Congress must be approved by the Council of
Ministers.
The legislative branch consists of a unicameral Congress of 120
members. In addition to passing laws, Congress ratifies treaties,
authorizes government loans, and approves the government budget. The
president has the power to block legislation with which the executive
branch does not agree.
The judicial branch of government is headed by a 16-member Supreme
Court seated in Lima. The Constitutional Tribunal interprets the
constitution on matters of individual rights. Superior courts in
departmental capitals review appeals from decisions by lower courts.
Courts of first instance are located in provincial capitals and are
divided into civil, penal, and special chambers. The judiciary has
created several temporary specialized courts, in an attempt to reduce
the large backlog of cases pending final court action. In 1996 a Human
Rights Ombudsman's office was created to address human rights issues.
Peru is divided into 24 departments and the constitutional province
of Callao, the country's chief port, adjacent to Lima. The departments
are subdivided into provinces, which are composed of districts.
Authorities below the departmental level are elected.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Peru is a republic with a dominant executive branch. Congress President
Valentin Paniagua was selected according to Peru’s constitution to head
an interim government after President Alberto Fujimori fled the country
and resigned in November 2000 in the wake of a bribery scandal and
political turmoil resulting from his tainted re-election to a third term
in June 2000.
The Paniagua government’s principal objective is to conduct free and
fair presidential and congressional elections in April 2001. A new
5-year government will take office in July 2001. The interim government
is also investigating a web of corruption under the Fujimori
administration run by Fujimori’s closest adviser, Vladimiro Montesinos,
and involving a wide range of government, political and business
leaders.
Human rights violations by the security forces dropped considerably
over the last several years, although there have been numerous
accusations of human rights infractions. Reports of torture, and the
lack of accountability and due process remain areas of concern. In 1995,
the Peruvian congress passed a law that granted amnesty from prosecution
to those who committed human rights abuses during the war on terrorism
from May 1980 to June 1995. The Peruvian Government established in 1996
the Human Rights Ombudsman's office to address human rights issues and
an ad hoc commission to review and recommend for presidential pardon
those unjustly detained for terrorism or treason.
ECONOMY
From 1994 through 1997, the economy recorded robust growth
driven by foreign direct investment, almost 40% of which was related to
the privatization program. In 1998, real GDP fell 0.4%, largely as a
result of the "El Niño" weather phenomenon, which led to sharp
declines in fishmeal exports, disrupted agriculture, and damaged
infrastructure. A stalled privatization
program, increased government intervention in markets, and worsening
terms of trade also contributed to the poor economic performance.
Financial turmoil in Asia, Russia, and Brazil added to the problem,
leading to a sharp decline in privatization-related foreign direct
investment and dramatic outflows of short-term capital. The economy
recovered somewhat in 1999 and 2000, registering growth rates of 1.4%
and 3.5%, respectively. But political turmoil dampened growth and
investment, and the economy is expected to grow less than 2% in 2001.
The Lima Stock Exchange general index fell 34.5% in 2000, but had
recovered somewhat by the end of the first quarter of 2001. Inflation
remained at record lows, registering about 3.7% in 1999 and 2000. The
government's overall budget deficit rose sharply in 1999 and 2000 to
about 3.0% of GDP, the result of hikes in government salaries,
expenditures related to the 2000 election campaign, higher foreign debt
service payments, and lower tax revenues. Peru's macroeconomic stability
brought about a substantial reduction in underemployment, from and
average of 74% from the late 1980s through 1994 to 43% in the 1995-2000
period. The poverty rate has fallen slightly over the years but remained
at 54% in 2000.
Foreign Trade and Balance of Payments
The current account deficit dropped in 2000 to about 2.3% of GDP ($1.3
billion)--from 3.0% in 2000--while merchandise trade registered a small
surplus of $100 million compared to a $2.5 billion deficit (4.3% of GDP)
in 1998. Exports grew by 7.6% to $7.54 billion, while imports grew 1.7%
to $7.46 billion. After being hit hard by El Niño in 1998,
fisheries exports have recovered, and minerals and metals exports should
record an increase of about 10% in 2001. Imports may register a small
increase in all categories in 2001. After several years of substantial
growth, foreign direct investment not related to privatization has
fallen dramatically to levels not seen in a decade. Short-term capital
and portfolio investment are expected to register a combined outflow of
$600 million, continuing a trend that began in 1998 with the Russian
financial crisis. Net international reserves at the end of March 2001
stood at $8.0 billion, down from $8.2 billion at the end of 2000.
Foreign Investment
The Peruvian Government actively seeks to attract both foreign and
domestic investment in all sectors of the economy. International
investment was spurred by the significant progress Peru made during the
1990s toward economic, social, and political stability, but it slowed
again after the government delayed privatizations and as political
uncertainty increased in 2000. While Peru was previously marked by
terrorism, hyperinflation, and government intervention in the economy,
the Government of Peru under former President Alberto Fujimori took the
steps necessary to bring those problems under control. Democratic
institutions, especially the judiciary, remain weak.
The Government of Peru's economic stabilization and liberalization
program lowered trade barriers, eliminated restrictions on capital
flows, and opened the economy to foreign investment, with the result
that Peru now has one of the most open investment regimes in the world.
Between 1990 and 2000, Peru attracted more than $15 billion in foreign
direct investment in Peru, after negligible investment during the 1980s,
mainly from Spain, the United States, the United Kingdom, Panama, and
Netherlands. The basic legal structure for foreign investment in Peru is
formed by the 1993 constitution, the Private Investment Growth Law, and
the November 1996 Investment Promotion Law. Although Peru does not have
a bilateral investment treaty with the United States, it has signed an
agreement (1993) with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
concerning OPIC-financed loans, guarantees, and investments. Peru also
has committed itself to arbitration of government-to-government
investment disputes under the auspices of ICSID--the World Bank's
International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes.
Economic Outlook
Forecasts for the medium- and long-term remain bright, as political
uncertainty diminishes with the inauguration of a new government. In the
near term, real GDP is expected to grow 1.5% in 2001. Inflation is
likely to fall again slightly, to about 3.6%, while the budget deficit
is expected to fall to about 1.9% of GDP as the result of a reduced
government spending. Private investment is estimated to drop further, by
some 1.5% in 2001, also as a result of near-term political uncertainty,
but is likely to increase after the new government takes office in July
2001. Exports are expected to rise by 4.6%. The unemployment and
underemployment indexes (7.4 % and 42.9%, respectively, in the third
quarter of 2000) are expected to rise in 2001. However, the country is
likely to attract both domestic and foreign investment in the tourism,
mining, petroleum and natural gas, and electric power industries once
the new government takes office.
Narcotics
The fight against narcotics trafficking in Peru has resulted in an
unprecedented 70% reduction since 1995 in the number of acres of illegal
coca leaf under cultivation. The impact of this illicit industry to the
national economy is difficult to measure, but estimates range from
$300-$600 million. An estimated 200,000 Peruvians are engaged in the
production, refining, or distribution of the narcotic. Many economists
believe that large flows of dollars into the banking system contribute
to the traditional depression in the dollar exchange rate vis-a-vis the
sol, and create a climate in which money-laundering can flourish. The
Central Bank engages in open market activities to prevent the price of
the sol from rising to levels that would otherwise hurt Peruvian
exports.
Hurt economically by successful Peruvian Air Force interdiction
efforts in the mid-1990s, drug traffickers are now using land and river
routes as well as aircraft to transport cocaine paste and, increasingly,
cocaine hydrochloride (HCL) around and out of the country. Peru
continues to arrest drug traffickers and seize drugs and precursor
chemicals, destroy coca labs, disable clandestine airstrips, and
prosecute officials involved in narcotics corruption.
Working with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID),
the Peruvian Government carries out alternative development programs in
the leading coca-growing areas in an effort to convince coca farmers not
to grow that crop. Although the government previously eradicated only
coca seed beds, in 1998 and 1999 it began to eradicate mature coca being
grown in national parks and elsewhere in the main coca growing valleys.
In 1999 the government eradicated over 15,000 hectares of coca; this
figure declined to 6,500 hectares in 2000, due largely to political
instability. The government agency "Contradrogas," founded in 1996,
facilitates coordination among Peruvian Government agencies working on
counternarcotics issues.
FOREIGN RELATIONS
In October 1998, Peru and Ecuador signed a peace accord which
definitively resolved border differences which had, over the years,
resulted in armed conflict. Peru and Ecuador are now jointly
coordinating an internationally sponsored border integration project.
The United States Government, as one of four guarantor states, was
actively involved in facilitating the 1998 peace accord between Peru and
Ecuador and remains committed to its implementation. The United States
has pledged $40 million to the Peru-Ecuador border integration project
and another
$4 million to support Peruvian and Ecuadorian demining efforts along
their common border.
In November 1999, Peru and Chile signed three agreements which put to
rest the remaining obstacles holding up implementation of the 1929
Border Treaty. (The 1929 Border Treaty officially ended the 1879 War of
the Pacific.) In December 1999, President Fujimori made the first visit
ever to Chile by a Peruvian head of state.
Peru has been a member of the United Nations since 1949, and Peruvian
Javier Perez de Cuellar served as UN Secretary General from 1981 to
1991. Former President Fujimori’s tainted re-election to a third term in
June 2000 strained Peru's relations with the United States and with many
Latin American and European countries, but relations improved with the
installation of an interim government determined to ensure free and fair
elections in 2001. Peru is planning full integration into the Andean
Free Trade Area. In addition, Peru is a standing member of APEC and the
WTO, and is an active participant in negotiations toward a Free Trade
Area of the Americas (FTAA).
U.S.-PERUVIAN RELATIONS
The United States enjoys strong and cooperative relations with Peru.
Relations were strained following the tainted re-election of former
President Fujimori in June 2000, but improved with the installation of
an interim government committed to holding free and fair presidential
and congressional elections in April 2001. The United States continues
to promote the strengthening of democratic institutions and human rights
safeguards in Peru.
The United States and Peru cooperate on efforts to interdict the flow
of narcotics, particularly cocaine, to the United States. The Peruvian
Air Force has successfully interdicted narcotics trafficking via air to
surrounding countries. Bilateral programs are now in effect to reduce
the flow of drugs on Peru's extensive river system and to perform ground
interdiction in tandem with successful law enforcement operations. The
United States and Peru cooperate on promoting programs of alternative
development in coca-growing regions.
U.S. investment and tourism in Peru have grown substantially in
recent years. U.S. exports to Peru were valued at $2.4 billion in 2000,
accounting for about 30% of Peru's imports. In the same year, Peru
exported $2 billion in goods to the United States, accounting for about
30% of Peru's exports to the world.
About 200,000 U.S. citizens visit Peru annually for business, tourism
, and study. About 10,000 Americans reside in Peru, and more than 400
U.S. companies are represented in the country.
U.S. Economic Assistance
U.S. bilateral assistance to Peru, including food aid and disaster
relief and rehabilitation, totaled more than $1.3 billion during the
1990-2000 period. The USAID program in Peru is its second-largest in
Latin America.
U.S. assistance to Peru is focused on six strategic objectives:
broader citizen participation in democratic processes; increased incomes
of the poor; improved health of high-risk populations, including family
planning; improved environmental management; reduced illicit coca
production in target areas of Peru; and expanded educational
opportunities for women. Additionally, a new initiative is being
developed to support the consolidation of the peace agreement signed
between Peru and Ecuador. The initiative would contribute to improved
living conditions of the population in the border region and thus show
tangible benefits of the peace accords.
Democracy. U.S. assistance seeks to strengthen democratic
institutions; promote more effective local governments; promote and
protect human rights; foster citizen participation; and strengthen
women's participation in decisionmaking processes. Through USAID, the
United States is providing more than $7 million to support the 2001
election process.
Reducing poverty. USAID aims to improve the policy environment
for private sector-led growth; expand access to markets; improve
production; improve access to and distribution of food resources; and
improve access to public utilities in poverty areas. U.S. food
assistance programs reach about 1.7 million poor Peruvians annually in
rural highlands and jungle areas, where the majority of the extreme
poverty is found.
Health. U.S. assistance is improving child survival and maternal
health services--such as immunization, diarrheal control, and prenatal
care--and strengthening and expanding the participation of public and
private sector entities in HIV/AIDS prevention. In family planning,
activities with the NGO sector include efforts to strengthen the
capacity of NGOs to supply family planning methods in urban and rural
areas; increase the sustainability of the supply of contraceptives; and
disseminate information on family planing methods and services. USAID's
support to the Ministry of Health has made substantial improvements in
this area. Infant mortality rate fell from 57 per 1,000 births in 1991
to 42 in 1997 while immunization campaigns for children younger than 1
reached 97.5% coverage.
Environment. USAID's strategy focuses on improving the legal,
policy, regulatory, and normative environment and natural resource
framework; promoting pollution prevention in selected peri-urban and
industrial settings; and protecting natural resources, including
biological diversity and fragile ecosystems. USAID has provided
important assistance to the Peruvian Government to improve the legal,
regulatory, and policy framework that established clearer rules on
environmentally sustainable natural resource use. Among these were the
National Environmental Council's Structural Framework for Environmental
Management, the Ministry of Industry's Environmental Regulation, the
Framework Law for Sustainable Use of Natural Resources, and the
Pollution Prevention Oriented Environmental Framework Legislation for
the Fisheries and related industries.
Alternative development. USAID seeks to reduce coca leaf
cultivation through alternative development and environmental protection
programs, as well as to reduce drug use and addition through prevention,
awareness and rehabilitation programs. It also seeks to increase the
commitment of farmers and communities to reduce illicit coca production
voluntarily. USAID, together with Peruvian and U.S. law enforcement
actions, has contributed to a 70% reduction of hectares devoted to coca
cultivation (from 115,300 Ha in 1995 to 34,000 Ha) in 2000. As a result,
over the same period the capacity of Peru to produce cocaine
hydrochloride, or HCl, declined from 525 tons to 145 tons. As of 1998,
the total gross agricultural production value of the alternative crops
in targeted areas outweighed the total gross production value of coca
leaf by 39%. As a result, over 2,600 new jobs were created and more than
20,000 farmers were assisted in production, quality improvement,
processing and marketing for licit crops such as coffee, cacao,
livestock, and agroforestry, on nearly 25,000 hectares.
Education. This strategic objective is aimed at assisting the
Government of Peru and civil society organizations to develop
initiatives that address critical constraints to basic education of
girls in rural areas in Peru. As a result, USAID has contributed to the
establishment of a National Network for Girls' Education in Peru, with
the participation of GOP sectoral ministries, NGOs, universities, the
business community, and donors. This national network has been very
active in increasing consciousness about the importance of girls'
education in Peru.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--John R. Hamilton
Deputy Chief of Mission--Roberta S. Jacobson
Director, USAID Mission--Thomas Geiger
Counselor for Political Affairs--Abelardo A. Arias
Counselor for Economic Affairs--Stephen Liston
Counselor for Narcotics Affairs (NAS--James Williard
Counselor for Public Affairs--Douglas Barnes
Counselor for Administrative Affairs--Elizabeth Hinson
Counselor for Consular Affairs--Barbara Cummings
Commercial Attache--Andrew Wylegala
Naval and Defense Attache--Capt. William Espinosa
Army Attache--Col. Dan Meyer
Air Attache--Col. Robert Mitchell
Chief, Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG)--Col. Gilberto Perez
Consular Agent, Cuzco--Dr. Olga Villagarcia
The U.S. embassy in Peru is located at Avendia la Encalada, Cuadra 17
s/n, Monterrico (Surco), Lima 33 (tel. (511) 434-3000; fax. (511)
434-3037). Home page:
http://usembassy.state.gov/lima
The embassy is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday,
except U.S. and some Peruvian holidays. The mailing address from the
United States is American Embassy Lima, APO AA 34031 (use U.S. domestic
postage rates). The American Citizen Services section is open to the
public from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The Consular Agency in Cuzco is located at Anda Tullamayu 125 (tel.
(51) (84) 224112 or (51) (84) 239451; fax. (51) (84) 233541).
Other Contact Information
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Office of Andean Affairs (Room 5906)
2201 C Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20520-6263
Tel: 202-647-3360
Fax: 202-647-2628
Home Page:
http://www.state.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce
International Trade Administration
Office of Latin America and the Caribbean
14th and Constitution, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Tel: (202) 482-0475
(800) USA-TRADE
Fax: (202) 482-0464
Home Page:
http://www.ita.doc.gov
American Chamber of Commerce of Peru
Avenida Ricardo Palma 836, Miraflores
Lima 18, Peru
Tel: (511) 241-0708
Fax: (511) 241-0709
E-Mail: amcham@amcham.tci.net.pe
Home Page:
http://www.amcham.org.pe
Peru Viajes
