Peru

 

Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs                                          
July 2007                                                                     
                                                                       
  Background Note: Peru                                                       
                                                 
  Incan ruins at Machu Picchu, Peru,                                          
  July 2006. [© AP Images]                                                    
                                                                       
  Flag of Peru is three equal, vertical bands of red on hoist side, white, and
  red with the coat of arms centered in the white band.                       
                                                                       
  PROFILE                                                                     
                                                                       
  OFFICIAL NAME:                                                              
  Republic of Peru                                                            
                                                                       
  Geography                                                                   
  Area: 1.28 million sq. km. (496,225 sq. mi.). Peru is the third-largest     
  country in South America and is approximately three times the size of       
  California.                                                                 
  Cities: Lima (capital), Arequipa, Chiclayo, Cuzco, Huancayo, Ica, Trujillo, 
  Ayacucho, Piura, Iquitos, Chimbote.                                         
  Terrain: Western arid coastal plains, central rugged Andean mountains, and  
  eastern lowlands with tropical forests that are part of the Amazon basin.   
  Climate: Arid and mild in coastal area, temperate to frigid in the Andes, and
  warm and humid in the jungle lowlands.                                      
                                                                       
  People                                                                      
  Nationality: Peruvian.                                                      
  Ethnic groups: Indigenous (45%), mixed background ("mestizo") (37%), European
  (15%), African, Japanese, Chinese, and other (3%).                          
  Population (July 2007 est.): 28.6 million. Approximately 30% of the         
  population lives in the Lima/Callao metropolitan area.                      
  Annual population growth rate (2007 est.): 1.28%.                           
  Religions: Roman Catholic (81%), other (10%).                               
  Languages: Spanish is the principal language. Quechua, Aymara and other     
  indigenous languages also have official status.                             
  Education: Years compulsory--11. Attendance--92% ages 6-11, and 66% ages    
  12-16. Literacy--95% in urban areas, 77% in rural areas.                    
  Health: Infant mortality rate (2006)--29.96/1,000. Life expectancy (2007)   
  --68.33 years male; 72.04 years female.                                     
  Unemployment in Lima (2006): 8.5%; underemployment (2006): 49.5%.           
                                                                       
  Government                                                                  
  Type: Constitutional republic.                                              
  Independence: July 28, 1821.                                                
  Constitution: December 31, 1993.                                            
  Branches: Executive--President, two Vice Presidents, and a Council of       
  Ministers led by a Prime Minister. Legislative--Unicameral Congress.        
  Judicial--Four-tier court structure consisting of Supreme Court and lower   
  courts.                                                                     
  Administrative divisions: 25 departments subdivided into 180 provinces and  
  1,747 districts.                                                            
  Political parties: Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana (APRA), National
  Unity (UN), Peru Posible (PP), Popular Action (AP), Union for Peru (UPP),   
  Solucion Popular, Somos Peru (SP).                                          
  Suffrage: Universal and mandatory for citizens 18 to 70.                    
                                                                       
  Economy                                                                     
  GDP (2006): $93.3 billion.                                                  
  Annual growth rate (2006): 8.0%.                                            
  Per capita GDP (2006): $3,368.                                              
  Natural resources: Iron ore, copper, gold, silver, zinc, lead, fish,        
  petroleum, natural gas, and forestry.                                       
  Manufacturing (16.7% of GDP, 2006): Types--Food and beverages, textiles and 
  apparel, nonferrous and precious metals, nonmetallic minerals, petroleum    
  refining, paper, chemicals, iron and steel, fishmeal.                       
  Agriculture (9.2% of GDP, 2006): Products--Coffee, asparagus, paprika,      
  artichoke, sugarcane, potato, rice, banana, maize, poultry, milk, others.   
  Other sectors (by percentage of GDP in 2006): Services (44.9%), mining      
  (6.8%), construction (5.8%), fisheries (0.6%).                              
  Trade: Exports (2006)--$23.7 billion: gold, copper, fishmeal, petroleum,    
  zinc, textiles, apparel, asparagus and coffee. Major markets (2005)--U.S.   
  (30%), China (11%), Chile (6.6%), Canada (6.0%), Switzerland (4.6%), Japan  
  (3.6%), Spain (3.3%), Netherlands (3.1%). Imports (2005)--$14.9 billion:    
  machinery, vehicles, processed food, petroleum and steel. Major suppliers   
  (2005)--U.S. (17.7%), China (8.5%), Brazil (8.2%), Ecuador (7.3%), Colombia 
  (6.2%).                                                                     
                                                                       
  PEOPLE                                                                      
  Peru is the fifth most populous country in Latin America (after Brazil,     
  Mexico, Colombia and Argentina). Twenty-one cities have a population of     
  100,000 or more. Rural migration has increased the urban population from    
  35.4% of the total population in 1940 to an estimated 74.6% as of 2005.     
                                                                       
  Most Peruvians are either Spanish-speaking mestizos--a term that usually    
  refers to a mixture of indigenous and European/Caucasian--or Amerindians,   
  largely Quechua-speaking indigenous people. Peruvians of European descent   
  make up about 15% of the population. There also are small numbers of persons
  of African, Japanese, and Chinese ancestry. 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 large-scale migration from rural to urban areas, a more  
  homogeneous national culture is developing, mainly along the relatively more
  prosperous coast. 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.   
                                                                       
  HISTORY, GOVERNMENT, AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS                               
                                                                       
  The Inca Empire and Spanish Conquest                                        
  When the Spanish landed in 1531, Peru's territory was the nucleus of the    
  highly developed Inca civilization. Centered at Cuzco, the Incan Empire     
  extended over a vast region from northern Ecuador to central Chile. In search
  of Inca wealth, the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro, who arrived in the 
  territory after the Incas had fought a debilitating civil war, conquered the
  weakened people. The Spanish 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 the Spanish colonies in South America.
  By the time of the wars of independence (1820-24), Lima had become one of the
  most distinguished and aristocratic colonial capital and the chief Spanish  
  stronghold in the Americas.                                                 
                                                                       
  Independence                                                                
  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   
  Venezuelan General Antonio Jose de Sucre defeated the Spanish troops at     
  Ayacucho, ending Spanish rule in South America. Spain subsequently 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 in which Peru ceded  
  the department of Tarapaca and the provinces of Tacna and Arica to Chile. In
  1929, Chile returned Tacna to Peru. Following a clash between Peru and      
  Ecuador in 1941, the Rio Protocol--of which the United States is one of four
  guarantors (along with Argentina, Brazil and Chile)--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 an historic peace treaty and         
  demarcated the border. In late 1999, the governments of Peru and Chile      
  likewise implemented the last outstanding article of their 1929 border      
  agreement. Peru and Chile still dispute the sea boundary.                   
                                                                       
  Contemporary History                                                        
                                                                       
  Military Rule and Return to Democracy (1968-1980)                           
  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 fishmeal industry, some petroleum and   
  mining companies, and several banks.                                        
                                                                       
  Because of Velasco's economic mismanagement and deteriorating health, he was
  replaced in 1975 by Gen. Francisco Morales Bermudez. Morales Bermudez       
  tempered the authoritarian abuses of the Velasco administration and began the
  task of restoring the country's economy. Morales Bermudez presided over the 
  return to civilian government under a new constitution and in the May 1980  
  elections, President Belaunde Terry was returned to office by an impressive 
  plurality.                                                                  
                                                                       
  Instability in the 1980s (1982-1990)                                        
  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 fishing industry. The fall in         
  international commodity prices to their lowest levels since the Great       
  Depression combined with the natural disasters to decrease production,      
  depress wages, exacerbate unemployment, and spur inflation. The economic    
  collapse was reflected in worsening living conditions for Peru's poor and   
  provided a breeding ground for social and political discontent. The emergence
  of the terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) in rural areas in    
  1980--followed shortly thereafter by the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement 
  (MRTA) in Lima--sent the country further into chaos. The terrorists were    
  financed in part from alliances with narcotraffickers, who had established a
  stronghold in the Peruvian Andes during this period. Peru and Bolivia became
  the largest coca producers in the world, accounting for roughly four-fifths 
  of the production in South America.                                         
                                                                       
  Amid inflation, economic hardship, and terrorism, the American Popular      
  Revolutionary Alliance (APRA) won the presidential election in 1985, bringing
  Alan García Pérez to office. The transfer of the presidency from Belaunde to
  García on July 28, 1985, was Peru's first transfer of power from one        
  democratically elected leader to another in 40 years.                       
                                                                       
  The Fujimori Decade (1990-2000)                                             
  Economic mismanagement by the García 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 felt he had a mandate for radical change. He 
  immediately implemented drastic economic reforms to tackle inflation (which 
  dropped from 7,650% in 1990 to 139% in 1991), but found opposition to further
  drastic measures, including dealing with the growing insurgency. On April 4,
  1992, Fujimori dissolved the Congress in the "auto-coup," revised the       
  constitution, and called new congressional elections. With a more pliant    
  Congress, Fujimori proceeded to govern unimpeded. Large segments of the     
  judiciary, the military and the media were co-opted by Fujimori's security  
  advisor, the shadowy Vladimiro Montesinos. The government unleashed a       
  counterattack against the insurgency that resulted in countless human right 
  abuses and eventually quashed the Shining Path and MRTA. During this time he
  also privatized state-owned companies, removed investment barriers and      
  significantly improved public finances.                                     
                                                                       
  Fujimori's constitutionally questionable decision to seek a third term, and 
  subsequent tainted electoral victory in June 2000, brought political and    
  economic turmoil. A bribery scandal that broke just weeks after he began his
  third term 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 under Valentin Paniagua presided over new presidential
  and congressional elections in April 2001. The new elected government, led by
  President Alejandro Toledo, took office July 28, 2001.                      
                                                                       
  The Toledo Administration (2001-2006)                                       
  The Toledo government successfully consolidated Peru's return to democracy, a
  process that had begun under President Paniagua. The government undertook   
  initiatives to implement the recommendations made by the Truth and          
  Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which had been charged with studying the   
  circumstances surrounding the human rights abuses and violations committed  
  between 1980 and 2000. Criminal charges for corruption and human rights     
  violations were brought against former President Fujimori, who is in Chile  
  fighting efforts to extradite him to Peru. Despite being a frequent target of
  media criticism, Toledo maintained strong commitments to freedom of the     
  press.                                                                      
                                                                       
  Under President Toledo, Peru signed a Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) with  
  the U.S., to replace the Andean Trade Preferences and Drug Eradication Act, 
  which was due to expire in December 2006. Toledo also unveiled the          
  construction of a road that will connect Brazil and Peru's isolated interior
  to the Pacific coast.                                                       
                                                                       
  Toledo's economic management led to an impressive economic boom in Peru that
  remains strong. Poverty reduction has been uneven, however. Although poverty
  in some areas has decreased by up to 37% over the last five years, nationally
  it has only decreased by 5% and over half of Peruvians are still considered 
  to be living below the poverty line (living on less than $2 a day). In 2005 
  the government implemented "Juntos," a program to double the income of people
  living under extreme poverty (less than $1 a day).                          
                                                                       
  2006 Elections and Transition to the Garcia Administration                  
  On June 4, 2006, APRA candidate Alan García Pérez was elected to the        
  presidency by 52.5% of the voters in his runoff with Ollanta Humala, who ran
  under the Union for Peru, with the support of his Peruvian Nationalist Party.
  With 36 seats, APRA has the second largest bloc--next to the Union for Peru 
  Party's 45 seats--in the 120-seat unicameral Congress which was sworn in July
  2006. After a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to 1990, García     
  returned to the presidency with promises to improve Peru's social condition,
  balancing economic stability with increased social spending. His stated     
  primary goal is to decrease poverty through job creation, especially in     
  Peru's southern highlands where poverty is most acute. He has sought to     
  improve relations with Peru's South American neighbors and with the United  
  States, and to present Peru's democratic and pro-free trade path as a model 
  for the region.                                                             
                                                                       
  Constitution and Political Institutions                                     
  The president is popularly elected for a five year term. A constitutional   
  amendment passed in 2000 prevents reelection. 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, comprised of 15 members and     
  headed by a prime minister. The president appoints its members, who must be 
  ratified by the Congress. All Executive laws 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 judicial branch of government is headed by a 16-member Supreme Court. 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.                                      
                                                                       
  Peru is divided into 25 regions. The regions are subdivided into provinces, 
  which are composed of districts. High authorities in the regional and local 
  levels are elected. The country's latest decentralization program is in     
  hiatus after the proposal to merge departments was defeated in a national   
  referendum in October 2005.                                                 
                                                                       
  Principal Government Officials                                              
  President--Alan GARCIA Pérez                                                
  First Vice President--Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas                                 
  Second Vice President--Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar                            
  President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister)--Jorge DEL CASTILLO  
  Galvez                                                                      
  Foreign Affairs Minister--José GARCÍA BELAÚNDE Antonio                      
  Finance and Economy Minister--Luis CARRANZA Ugarte                          
  Defense Minister--Allan WAGNER Tizón                                        
  Minister of Economy and Finance--Luis CARRANZA Ugarte                       
  Minister of Interior--Luis ALVA Castro                                      
  Minister of Justice--María ZAVALA Valladares                                
  Minister of Educacion--José Antonio CHANG Escobedo                          
  Minister of Health--Carlos VALLEJOS Sologuren                               
  Minister of Agriculture--Ismael BENAVIDES Ferreyros                         
  Minister of Labor--Susana PINILLA                                           
  Minister of Trade and Tourism--Mercedes ARAOZ Fernández                     
  Minister of Energy and Mines--Juan VALDIVIA Romero                          
  Minister of Transportation and Communications--Verónica ZAVALA Lombardi     
  Minister of Production--Ingeniero Rafael REY Rey                            
  Minister of Housing--Hernán GARRIDO Lecca                                   
  Minister of Women--Virginia BORRA                                           
  Ambassador to the United States--Felipe Ortiz de Zevallos                   
  Permanent Representative to the United Nations--Oswaldo DE RIVERO           
  Ambassador to the Organization of American States--Antero FLORES-ARAOZ      
                                                                       
  Peru maintains an embassy in the United States at 1700 Massachusetts Avenue,
  NW, Washington, DC 20036 (tel. (202) 833-9860/67, consular section: (202)   
  462-1084). Peru has consulates in Atlanta, New York, Paterson (NJ), Miami,  
  Chicago, Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, and Hartford. 
                                                                       
  ECONOMY                                                                     
  Peru's economy has shown strong growth over the past five years, helped by  
  market-oriented economic reforms and privatizations in the 1990s, and       
  measures taken since 2001 to promote trade and attract investment. GDP grew 
  8.0% in 2006, 6.7% in 2005, 4.8% in 2004, 4.0 in 2003, and 4.9% in 2002.    
  President Alan Garcia and his economic team have continued these policies.  
  GDP is projected to grow by more than 7% in 2007. Recent economic expansion 
  has been driven by construction, mining, export growth, investment, and     
  domestic demand. Inflation is projected to remain under 2% in 2007, and the 
  fiscal deficit is only 0.6% of GDP. In 2006 external debt decreased to $28.3
  billion, and foreign reserves were a record $17.3 billion at the end of 2006.
                                                                       
  Peru's economy is well managed, and better tax collection and growth are    
  increasing revenues, with expenditures keeping pace. Private investment is  
  rising and becoming more broad-based. The government has had success with   
  recent international bond issuances, resulting in ratings upgrades. The     
  Garcia administration is studying decentralization initiatives, and is      
  focused on bringing more small businesses into the formal economy.          
                                                                       
  Foreign Trade                                                               
  Peru and the U.S. signed the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) on  
  April 12, 2006 in Washington, DC. The PTPA was ratified by the Peruvian     
  Congress on June 28, 2006, but has not yet been ratified by the U.S.        
  Congress. On December 9, 2006, the U.S. Congress extended the Andean Trade  
  Preference Act (ATPA) as amended by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug     
  Eradication Act (ATPDEA)--jointly referred to as ATPA/ATPDEA--through June  
  2007. On June 30, 2007 the President signed legislation extending ATPA/ATPDEA
  for an additional 8 months.                                                 
                                                                       
  Peru registered a trade surplus of $8.8 billion in 2006. Exports reached    
  $23.7 billion, partially as a result of high mineral prices. Peru's major   
  trading partners are the U.S., China, EU, Chile and Japan. In 2006, 23.0% of
  exports went to the U.S. ($5.9 billion) and 16.0% of imports came from the  
  U.S. ($2.9 billion). Exports include gold, copper, fishmeal, petroleum, zinc,
  textiles, apparel, asparagus and coffee. Imports include machinery, vehicles,
  processed food, petroleum and steel. Peru belongs to the Andean Community,  
  the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and the World Trade     
  Organization (WTO).                                                         
                                                                       
  Foreign Investment                                                          
  The Peruvian Government actively seeks to attract both foreign and domestic 
  investment in all sectors of the economy. The registered stock of foreign   
  direct investment (FDI) is over $15.4 billion, with the U.S., Spain, and the
  United Kingdom the leading investors. FDI is concentrated in                
  telecommunications, mining, manufacturing, finance and electricity.         
                                                                       
  Mining and Energy                                                           
  Peru is a source of both natural gas and petroleum. In August 2004, Peru    
  inaugurated operations of the Camisea natural gas project. Camisea gas is   
  fueling an electricity generator and six industrial plans in Lima, with other
  facilities in the process of switching to gas. In a second phase, liquefied 
  natural gas (LNG) will be exported to the west coast of the United States and
  Mexico. The gas and condensates from Camisea are equivalent to some 2.4     
  billion barrels of oil, approximately seven times the size of Peru's proven 
  oil reserves. The Camisea project, when completed, is expected to gradually 
  transform Peru's economy, catalyze national development and turn Peru into a
  net energy exporter.                                                        
                                                                       
  Peru is the world's second-largest producer of silver, sixth-largest producer
  of gold and copper, and a significant source of the world's zinc and lead.  
  Mineral exports have consistently accounted for the most significant portion
  of Peru's export revenue, averaging around 50% of total earnings from 1998 to
  2005 and 62% in 2006.                                                       
                                                                       
  FOREIGN RELATIONS                                                           
  Peru generally enjoys friendly relations with its neighbors.                
                                                                       
  In November 1999, Peru and Chile signed three agreements that 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 late   
  2005, a declaration of maritime borders by Peru's Congress set off a new    
  round of recriminations with Chile, which claims that the maritime borders  
  were agreed to in fishing pacts dating from the early 1950s. In contrast, the
  Garcia administration has recently made overtures to Chile, aimed at        
  improving that relationship.                                                
                                                                       
  In October 1998, Peru and Ecuador signed a peace accord to resolve once and 
  for all border differences that had sparked violent confrontations. Peru and
  Ecuador are now jointly coordinating an internationally sponsored border    
  integration project. The U.S. 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 1998, Peru became a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
  forum, facilitating closer ties and economic relations between Peru and Asian
  nations. Peru will host the APEC Summit in 2008.                            
                                                                       
  Peru has been a member of the United Nations since 1949, and is a member of 
  the Security Council. Peruvian Javier Perez de Cuellar served as UN Secretary
  General from 1981 to 1991.                                                  
                                                                       
  Peru maintains 210 troops in peacekeeping operations in Haiti under the UN's
  MINUSTAH.                                                                   
                                                                       
  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 in November 2000 and the inauguration of the government of       
  Alejandro Toledo in July 2001. Relations with President Garcia's            
  administration are positive. The United States continues to promote the     
  strengthening of democratic institutions and human rights safeguards in Peru
  and the integration of Peru into the world economy.                         
                                                                       
  The United States and Peru cooperate on efforts to interdict the flow of    
  narcotics, particularly cocaine, to the United States. Bilateral programs are
  now in effect to reduce the flow of drugs through Peru's port systems and to
  perform ground interdiction in tandem with successful law enforcement       
  operations. These U.S. Government-supported law enforcement efforts are     
  complemented by an aggressive effort to establish an alternative development
  program for coca farmers in key coca growing areas to voluntarily reduce and
  eliminate coca cultivation. This effort is funded by the Department of      
  State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) 
  and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).                  
                                                                       
  U.S. investment and tourism in Peru have grown substantially in recent years.
  The U.S. is Peru's number one trade partner, and economic and commercial ties
  will deepen if the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) is passed by  
  the U.S. Congress.                                                          
                                                                       
  About 200,000 U.S. citizens visit Peru annually for business, tourism, and  
  study. About 16,000 Americans reside in Peru, and more than 400 U.S.        
  companies are represented in the country.                                   
                                                                       
  Principal U.S. Embassy Officials                                            
  Ambassador--J. Curtis Struble                                               
  Deputy Chief of Mission--Phyllis Powers                                     
  Director, USAID Mission--Paul Weisenfeld                                    
  Counselor for Political Affairs--Alexis Ludwig                              
  Counselor for Economic Affairs--Adam Shub                                   
  Counselor for Narcotics Affairs (NAS)--Susan Keogh                          
  Counselor for Public Affairs--Sam Wunder                                    
  Counselor for Management Affairs--Robert Davis                              
  Counselor for Consular Affairs--Ray Baca                                    
  Commercial Counselor--Margaret Hanson-Muse                                  
  Naval and Defense Attaché--Capt. Lee Rivas                                  
  Army Attaché--Col. Kris Cuello                                              
  Chief, Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG)--Col. Jeffrey Fargo        
  Consular Agent, Cuzco--Olga Villagarcia                                     
                                                                       
  The U.S. Embassy in Peru is located at Avenida Encalada, Cuadra 17 s/n,     
  Monterrico (Surco), Lima 33 (tel. (511) 434-3000; fax. (511) 434-3037. Home 
  page: http://lima.usembassy.gov/                                            
                                                                       
  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). The USAID Building is   
  located at Av. Encalada cdra. 17 s/n, Monterrico (Surco) Lima 33, (tel. (511)
  618-1200.                                                                   
                                                                       
  Other Contact Information                                                   
  U.S. Department of State                                                    
  Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs                                        
  Office of Andean Affairs (Room 5906)                                        
  2201 C Street NW                                                            
  Washington, DC 20520-6263                                                   
  Tel: 202-647-4177                                                           
  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://trade.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.org.pe                                                
  Home Page: http://www.amcham.org.pe/                                        
                                                                       
  TRAVEL AND BUSINESS INFORMATION                                             
  The U.S. Department of State's Consular Information Program advises Americans
  traveling and residing abroad through Consular Information Sheets, Public   
  Announcements, and Travel Warnings. Consular Information Sheets exist for all
  countries and include information on entry and exit requirements, currency  
  regulations, health conditions, safety and security, crime, political       
  disturbances, and the addresses of the U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
  Public Announcements are issued to disseminate information quickly about    
  terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions overseas that  
  pose significant risks to the security of American travelers. Travel Warnings
  are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid travel 
  to a certain country because the situation is dangerous or unstable.        
                                                                       
  For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad  
  should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet
  web site at http://www.travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution,
  Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Consular Affairs    
  Publications, which contain information on obtaining passports and planning a
  safe trip abroad, are also available at http://www.travel.state.gov. For    
  additional information on international travel, see http://www.usa.gov/     
  Citizen/Topics/Travel/International.shtml.                                  
                                                                       
  The Department of State encourages all U.S citizens traveling or residing   
  abroad to register via the State Department's travel registration website or
  at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Registration will make your
  presence and whereabouts known in case it is necessary to contact you in an 
  emergency and will enable you to receive up-to-date information on security 
  conditions.                                                                 
                                                                       
  Emergency information concerning Americans traveling abroad may be obtained 
  by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada or the regular   
  toll line 1-202-501-4444 for callers outside the U.S. and Canada.           
                                                                       
  The National Passport Information Center (NPIC) is the U.S. Department of   
  State's single, centralized public contact center for U.S. passport         
  information. Telephone: 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778). Customer service   
  representatives and operators for TDD/TTY are available Monday-Friday, 7:00 
  a.m. to 12:00 midnight, Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays.           
                                                                       
  Travelers can check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for 
  Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. A hotline at 877-FYI-TRIP
  (877-394-8747) and a web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm give the
  most recent health advisories, immunization recommendations or requirements,
  and advice on food and drinking water safety for regions and countries. A   
  booklet entitled "Health Information for International Travel" (HHS         
  publication number CDC-95-8280) is available from the U.S. Government       
  Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, tel. (202) 512-1800.                 
                                                                       
  Further Electronic Information                                              
  Department of State Web Site. Available on the Internet at http://          
  www.state.gov, the Department of State web site provides timely, global     
  access to official U.S. foreign policy information, including Background    
  Notes and daily press briefings along with the directory of key officers of 
  Foreign Service posts and more. The Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC)
  provides security information and regional news that impact U.S. companies  
  working abroad through its website http://www.osac.gov                      
                                                                       
  Export.gov provides a portal to all export-related assistance and market    
  information offered by the federal government and provides trade leads, free
  export counseling, help with the export process, and more.                  
  STAT-USA/Internet, a service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, provides   
  authoritative economic, business, and international trade information from  
  the Federal government. The site includes current and historical            
  trade-related releases, international market research, trade opportunities, 
  and country analysis and provides access to the National Trade Data Bank.   

 

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