Toledo took power amid trade union protests. He encountered quite a difficult scenario…

Well, the current scenario is the result of a 10-year economic crisis and cannot be solved from one day to another. The problem is that different groups, construction workers in particular, have been pressing for a long time. But the curious thing is that it is not a wage-related problem but one linked to the working conditions. Alberto Fujimori’s administration destroyed the collective bargaining demands of the whole civil construction trade union and turned them into a bargaining on a work-by-work basis thus considerably demeaning workers’ bargaining power. So this is one of the major points of protest. In my view, it is quite possible to solve and may not have a negative economic impact. I’m sure it will be solved in coming weeks.

On the one hand, Toledo is appointing his cabinet, on the other, he named Javier Pérez de Cuéllar as ambassador in France. He is thinking of embarking on a tour of the United States, Canada and Europe. What are the expectations about these two issues?

First of all, Alejandro Toledo’s cabinet has been full since the first day of his administration. It is quite a reasonable cabinet with some surprises such as the appointment of Roberto Dañino –a renowned lawyer who had been living in the United States for twenty years- as Prime Minister without portfolio and then a series of outstanding nominations such as Diego García Sayán in Foreign Affairs Ministry and the brothers Quijandría for the Energy and Mines and Agriculture Ministries.

Regarding Pérez Cuellar, the President has entrusted upon him a specific and important task: coordinate the Donor Countries Office of Peru. On this duty –he is ranked as extraordinary plenipotentiary ambassador, itinerant ambassador- he will exchange with European countries, Canada and the United States (perhaps with Japan too) to set up a Donor Countries Office that may contribute to solving the financial and social woes inherited from Alberto Fujimori’s regime.

'Regarding the case of Pérez de Cuéllar, the President has given him a
major task -coordinate the Donors Office for Peru'.
 

What does the public opinion expect from this Donor Countries Office underway?

Well, important announcements have already been made. Spain and Germany have decided to contribute and so has Finland. The United States is expected to contribute in two ways: for one, through direct support in the plans of fight against drugs and also through the renewal of the Tariff Reference Treaty for the Andean zone. I believe there are interesting expectations. Perhaps we will not receive tons of money –you in Buenos Aires are used to receiving billions in financial rescue packages and investments. In Peru I hope we could obtain hundreds of million dollars in aid –soft credit and donations- partly to conduct the reconstructions after the earthquake in the South of Peru, and partly for the plans against poverty, a fundamental point in Alejandro Toledo’s policy. And then more general aid to fuel economic recovery.

In recent days the Latin American media has spoken of a possible terrorist outbreak in the country. Is this likely?

In this regard, a small column in the zone of San Martín has remained for quite a long time. Rather than terrorism it is a group of criminals linked to drug-trafficking who seek to survive. But this conception of political terrorism intent on seizing power and causing instability has disappeared. There’s no possibility for an outbreak. There are some terrorist spots turned into common criminals closely linked to drug-trafficking.

What do you think Alberto Fujimori’s fate will be like?

There is a question mark here. We hope that the Japanese government will some time take a sensible decision toward a ‘common criminal’ who is accused not only of illicit enrichment , post abandonment but also of human rights abuses. And as we know, the jurisdiction on the human rights issue has become international. Therefore, I hope that sooner or later, and better sooner than later, Alberto Fujimori be extradited and tried in Peru. But the time this may take will depend on the Japanese government. We must remember that even Pinochet, after over 10 years of stepping down from power, had to be recruited in England and is now about to be tried in his own country. Something similar will happen with Fujimori sooner or later.

Now Fujimori is ‘speaking’ from Japan over the Internet.....

That is such a shame. Lie after lie trying to destabilize the Peruvian situation after what he did. That attitude in itself should be enough for the Japanese government to take a stronger stance with regard to this ‘new citizens’ who took his Japanese nationality out of his sleeve to flee the Peruvian justice.