Peruvian vice minister talks to The Daily Star Egypt about trade and regional affairs CAIRO: The Peruvian Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gonzalo Gutierrez Reinel, visited Cairo May 27-29 as part of a tour of North Africa and the Middle East, which includes Algeria and Israel. The Vice Minister was in Cairo to discuss bilateral trade with Egypt, the situation in the Middle East, and the sharing of intelligence on key issues such as drug trafficking and counter-terrorism. Over a working lunch Monday with the Egyptian Vice Minister for South American Affairs, Hatem Seif El Nasr, Reinel expressed his concern over the increase in drug trafficking coming through Africa from South America, and both Vice Ministers vowed to share intelligence in a bid to nip this trend in the bud. We already have a mechanism of political and diplomatic consultations with Egypt, Reinel told The Daily Star Egypt. And we will be exchanging more information in the fight against drug rings not only here, but all over the world. The Vice Minister added that Peru and Egypt would also closely cooperate in the areas of money laundering and counter-terrorism. On the situation in the Middle East, Reinel first made the point that countries - like Iran - should have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, but only in strict accordance with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolutions, and regular inspections of nuclear facilities. Both Vice Ministers agreed that Israel and Palestine should grant one another full recognition, and that the Arab Initiative formulated at the Arab summit in Saudi Arabia would be a good first step. Having visited Gaza and the West Bank six months ago, the Vice Minister said he believed that economic development was the greatest hope for lasting peace in Palestine. He also lavished praise on Egypt for the role it continued to play in negotiations both between Palestinian factions, and between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Trade between Peru and Egypt was the other major topic on the agenda. The Peruvian Vice Minister lamented the lack of commercial activity between the countries, which amounts to a diminutive $6 million ( practically none ), but expressed optimism over future deals, especially after the presentation he gave at the Egyptian Businessman s Association (EBA) in Giza. He was hopeful over future deals to purchase Peruvian coffee, Egypt being a major importer of the product, and Egyptian products, particularly cotton, he believed, would certainly be of interest to businesspeople in Peru. The presentation rounded off a day in which the Vice Minister had also signed an agreement for cultural cooperation with Egypt, and paid a brief visit to Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit. On Wednesday Reinel visited the President of the Shoura Council s Committee for Arab Affairs, Foreign Relations and Defense, Mohamed Bassiouny, before signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa. The Vice Minister finished his stay in Egypt with a cultural flourish, visiting the Egyptian museum and the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Egypt and Peru will meet again in November this year at a summit between South American and Arab countries, which will be held in Peru.
