"One of the major threats to democracy today comes from the power of organized crime that establishes or seeks to establish, in some places, a sort of parallel power and tries to control portions of the state," he said.

Roncagliolo's statement came after a meeting in the Colombian coastal city of Cartagena with the Ministers of Defense, Interior, Justice and Foreign Affairs of the 12 member countries of the Unasur.

"Organized crime not only represents a major transnational economic power but also a threat to the states," he stated.

The foreign minister recalled that Peru will take over the rotating Unasur presidency in November and stressed that this meeting in Cartagena on organized crime is one of the most important issues facing the region.

While in Colombia, Roncagliolo is scheduled to participate in a meeting of foreign ministers of the Andean Community (CAN) and an extended meeting with the Andean trade ministers later today.

(END) GCO/GCO/EEP