16:27 | Washington D.C., Jul. 8.
Thursday marked the launch of the Congressional Caucus on Peru at the United States Congress; this parliamentary work group aims at increasing awareness of bilateral topics of interest among public opinion and legislative sectors.
The event was hosted by the co-chairs of this new congressional organization, the republican Representative from Utah, Chris Stewart, and his democrat colleague from New York, Gregory Meeks, along with Peru’s Ambassador to the United States, Luis Miguel Castilla.
A group of congressmen interested in becoming part of this brand new caucus, that to date has 11 members from the democratic and republican parties, also attended the activity, as well as Congressional staffers, officials and aides from the Department of State, the Department of Commerce and the White House.
Congressman Meeks underlined that he is "very proud to co-chair a caucus on a country like Peru, with which the United States currently enjoys an excellent bilateral relationship and one for which I have a special affection." Meeks has visited Peru several times and strongly supported the signing of its Free Trade Agreement with the United States.
On the other hand, Congressman Stewart noted that the Caucus "is not only a space for meaningful dialogue between the two countries, but is also an opportunity to strengthen ties between Peru and Utah, a State in which more than forty thousand Peruvians live, study and work."
On the Peruvian side, Ambassador Castilla pointed out that his Embassy has worked in the development of this project for more than a year.
“I am confident that this Caucus on Peru will become a fundamental tool for strengthening bilateral relations with the United States. It offers the opportunity to establish a platform for broad dialogue at the highest level to develop a common work agenda," he told attendees.
Castilla emphasized that this initiative will address the most important issues for both countries, such as commerce, the fight against drug trafficking, security, migration, among others.
Peru will be only the fifth Latin-American country with an active Caucus in the House of Representatives. The others are Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Panama.
(END) NDP/RMB/MVB
Published: 7/8/2016