Following Colombia's peace deal signing, the United States will continue to cooperate with Peruvian and Colombian governments to reinforce the fight against drug-trafficking and "the effect it may have on Peruvian territory," U.S. Ambassador to Peru Brian A. Nichols affirmed.
In this respect, the diplomat also referred to Peru's need to bolster its Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) in order to fight transnational crime, drug-trafficking and money laundering.
"It is important [strengthening the UIF] to become an OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] member, as well as for Peru-U.S. tax relations and the fight against transnational crime," he pointed out.
On the other hand, the diplomat confirmed U.S. President Barack Obama's attendance to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum's Summit taking place in Lima next November. In this sense, he noted arrangements are in place to schedule a number of bilateral meetings and visits.
Mr. Nichols had previously commented on the U.S. Head of State's upcoming visit to Peru on a different occasion, describing it as an opportunity to reaffirm close and complete bilateral relations.
The Senior Foreign Service official had also referred to President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski's meeting with U.S. State Secretary John Kerry in New York, highlighting the event as a lead-up to the top official's upcoming meeting in Lima.
Remarks were made following the Ambassador's meeting with Peru Congress Chairwoman Luz Salgado.
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