—of which Peru is a founding country— is a regional integration process that is essential for the economic and social development of Colombia, Chile, Mexico, and Peru, as well as for improving their citizens' quality of life, the
reported on Saturday.
Faithful to its founding principles and beyond any divergence, the Pacific Alliance has been permanently enriched by the constitutional transitions that have taken place in its four member countries, which has made it possible to reaffirm the ties of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation that unite their peoples.
The Framework Agreement of the Pacific Alliance states that the Pro-Tempore Presidency is exercised for annual periods and alphabetical-order rotations.
This has always happened normally. Whenever there has been flexibility in terms, it has been given by common agreement of members and without impositions on any of them.
The transfer of the Pro-Tempore Presidency to Peru from January 2023 was part of the preparatory meetings agenda for the summit that was neither held in Mexico City in November 2022, nor in Lima in December of the same year.
For this purpose, Peru has maintained permanent open channels with Pacific Alliance members —particularly with Mexico.
Likewise, Peru has formally requested the convening of the Pacific Alliance High-Level Group to jointly address the transfer of the Alliance Pro-Tempore Presidency, without it having been convened by Mexico, among other obstacles raised during the talks which have been held with said country.
The transfer of the Pacific Alliance Pro-Tempore Presidency to Peru is not a concession; it is an obligation contained in a treaty, which binds the four countries that make up the bloc.
Despite the fact that the Mexican Government has continued to exercise the de facto Pro-Tempore Presidency, the work of the mechanism has been paralyzed —as a result of the politicization that it is undergoing for the first time in its history.
This situation has impeded progress in the negotiations for the entry of new members from the region to the Pacific Alliance.
The Government of Peru reiterates its rejection of the interference acts by the President of Mexico in its domestic political process. It also reaffirms Peru's full commitment to democracy and human rights.
"It is up to Peruvians to find a course of solution to our problems without external interference or meddling, and we have been doing so within the framework of our Political Constitution," it stated.
The Government of Peru also reaffirmed that the transfer of the Pacific Alliance Pro-Tempore Presidency must take place in compliance with the obligations of International Law contained in the Framework Agreement.
"We reiterate our appreciation to the Pacific Alliance Business Council (CEAP), an essential partner in the process, which, with a sense of responsibility and respect for the institutional framework of the PA, has transferred its Presidency to Peru, ensuring the continuity of its work for the benefit of the Pacific Alliance people," the statement concluded.