The Prime Minister also welcomed the signing of the Peru-Ecuador border accord by President Fujimori and President Mahuad of Ecuador, yesterday in Brasilia:

"This accord signed yesterday settles the longest-standing border dispute in South America, dating back 130 years. It has been the cause of numerous armed clashes and loss of life. Canada congratulates the Presidents of Peru and Ecuador for their tenacity and political courage in reaching this accord, following several months of intense talks."

"We also recognize the contribution of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and the United States. These countries have acted as good neighbours and created an encouraging environment for peaceful negotiation.

"Ecuador and Peru have signed the Ottawa Convention to Ban Anti-Personnel Mines, and Peru has ratified it. With this accord, the two countries will be able to work together to remove the mines along their border. We welcome the two Presidents' commitment to do this."

A short backgrounder on the Canada-Peru initiatives is attached.

Project to support Peru's National Ombudsman (Defensor del Pueblo)

Since 1996, Canada, through CIDA, has provided approximately $200,000 to Peru's Defensor del Pueblo (National Ombudsman), the country's autonomous voice responsible for investigating complaints and defending the human rights of citizens. This support has been particularly focused on penitentiary issues.

Previous projects included: supporting the Ontario Ombudsman's Office in establishing the Defensor's office; approving a project to create a supervisory position within the National Penitentiary to ensure prison workers respect the minimum rights of prisoners; and working with the Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO) to assist the Defensor in identifying areas where services could be improved.

Today's announcement is a $2.3 million, three year initiative, which builds on previous support to the Defensor del Pueblo. This project will help improve the quality, effectiveness and accessibility of the Defensor's services. Through workshops conducted by the Defensor's staff, this initiative will improve the public's knowledge of human rights, and will inform civil servants of their responsibilities in delivering public services.

The project will also help strengthen the Defensor's regional presence by reinforcing existing offices and opening new ones throughout Peru. The project will be implemented locally through the Canadian Embassy in Peru, and Peruvian and Canadian experts will be involved as needed to provide short-term assistance.

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)

Canada's mutual legal assistance treaty with Peru is part of Canada's ongoing efforts to increase international cooperation to combat transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking.

The purpose of the treaty is to assist police and prosecutors in obtaining evidence located in other jurisdictions. They provide the legal basis for the authorities in one country to take compulsory measures, such as compelling witnesses and conducting searches and seizures, at the request of the authorities of the other.

The development of a network of MLATs is proving to be very useful to the RCMP and other Canadian investigating authorities in dealing with transboundary crime.

The Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, passed by Parliament in 1988, ensures the implementation of MLATs in Canadian law. Law enforcement authorities in other countries having a MLAT with Canada who are engaged in a criminal investigation may request that evidence be obtained in Canada through a direct request to our Department of Justice.

In addition to obtaining evidence, MLATs may also be used to exchange information on the proceeds of crime and assist in some cases with forfeiture. They may also be used to examine objects, exchange information, locate and identify persons, transfer persons in custody, and facilitate requests for search and seizure.

Canada's first such treaty was with the United States, and entered into force on January 24, 1990. Canada is now party to 16 other bilateral MLATs with Austria, Australia, the Bahamas, China, France, Hungary, India, Italy, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom. Canada also has two multilateral treaties in place through the Organization of American States (InterAmerican Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters) and the United Nations (UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic In Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances).

Canada has signed MLATs that are not yet in force with 12 other countries (including today's with Peru) and 15 others are being negotiated.

Minerals and Metals Project in Peru

Peru relies heavily on the export of raw materials, especially minerals such as copper, lead, silver, zinc, iron and gold. Raw materials accounted for 52 percent of Peru's total export income in 1996.

CIDA-funded projects in Peru's mining sector focus on improving environmental regulations and their application, as well as the health and safety of the miners. Projects in the minerals and metals sector include an exchange project that involved exchange visits of environmentalists to explore possible cooperation and to ensure more effective environmental social assessment of mining impacts.

CIDA also worked with Natural Resources Canada to deliver seminars and workshops in Peru and Chile focusing on sustainable development in the minerals and metals industry in the Americas. The seminars and workshops were conducted in preparation for the Latin America Mines Ministries Conference held in Arequipa, Peru, in September 1997.

As a result of these and other initiatives, Peru has joined other countries in the Americas to discuss mining sector regulations, and the Government of Peru has also begun consulting with various groups regarding mining issues.

Today's announcement means that CIDA will now work in partnership with British Columbia's Ministry of Energy and Mines to implement a project to help develop sustainable environmental mining practices and improve the health and safety of Peruvian miners.

British Columbia has nearly 100 years of experience in managing the mineral sector and has the strictest environmental mining guidelines in Canada. B.C.'s Ministry of Energy and Mines will help Peru's Ministry of Energy and Mines raise its mine safety and environmental standards by sharing its expertise and experiences through a series of personnel exchanges. Canadian experts will also train field technicians in the use of equipment and assist in developing mining safety procedures. CIDA will provide $4.5 million over four years to this project.

Letter of Intent Between the National Research Council of Canada and the National Science and Technology Council of Peru:

The letter of intent is designed to promote a wide range of scientific cooperation between these two national research bodies. It is a first step to what both parties hope will be an expanding program of cooperation.

At first, activities would consist of exchanges of technical and medical information, and and cooperation in research, focusing on technology transfer to small-and-medium-sized enterprises. It could also include training of scientific and engineering staff.

The letter also deals with the administrative and logistical aspects of cooperation projects, touching upon areas such as visas and confidentiality of information being shared.

More major research, or cooperation involving intellectual property concerns, could be included in a more formal, future agreement.