Divided reactions have caused the announcements made by the President of Peru, Pedro Castillo, during his participation in the 77th UN General Assembly, such as the forthcoming installation of a Peruvian diplomatic delegation in Palestine, the recognition of the sovereignty of the Saharawi Arab Republic and of Argentina in the Malvinas Islands.
Experts and politicians consulted by the voice of america in Lima point out, with different nuances, the international impact of Castillo’s message in New York. From the visualization of the Peruvian position on issues that are part of the United Nations global agenda to possible diplomatic impasses in the coming days.
This new front for Castillo at the international level would add to the political and judicial challenges he faces in Peru. In almost 14 months of government, the rural teacher has had permanent instability with 70 appointed ministers. In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office is investigating him for irregular promotions in the Armed Forces and the National Police in November of last year.
Also for an alleged favoring of a company to achieve a contract with the Peruvian state oil company and for the alleged plagiarism in his master’s thesis. Another ongoing investigation refers to the bidding for a bridge in the country’s jungle.
More recently, Castillo faces two other investigations for an “alleged cover-up” to avoid catching fugitives from his government and for leading a criminal organization that sought to direct public works tenders.
positioning
At the beginning of his speech, Castillo called for all efforts to ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war. “Peru reiterates, once again, the need for a ceasefire to be agreed in Ukraine, for the protection of civil society affected by the conflict to be increased, and for negotiations to begin to find a peaceful solution, which includes the interests from all parties,” he said.
“It is necessary to give continuity to the agreement that allows the export of cereals from Ukraine and, as the secretary general has pointed out, make arrangements to normalize Russian fertilizer exports, the lack of which is burdening the poorest farmers in the developing world” added the president from New York.
Óscar Vidarte, Master in International Relations from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia, remarked to the VOA that the initial part of Castillo’s speech wanted to show the Peruvian position on issues that are of global importance to the UN, such as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the consequences that it entails, such as the fertilizer crisis.
Since last November, the Peruvian government had three failed purchases of urea due to irregularities of the bidding companies that were denounced by the Comptroller General. Added to this problem, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation had political instability, having four heads in eight months.
Vidarte also mentioned that Castillo resorted to a very marked point of his administration, which is the social agenda. “It is evident that the president has a social rights agenda not only from an internal perspective, but also now globally. Let’s say, the global development agenda has tried to put a lot of emphasis on it,” he noted.
The specialist indicated that the Peruvian president showed a clear position on the Escazú Agreement despite the fact that he recently appointed internationalist Miguel Rodríguez Mackay as foreign minister, who had a position against it.
diplomatic impasses
The most controversial part of Castillo was the ads. He mentioned that Peru will have a diplomatic representation in Palestine and demanded the end of Israel’s occupation. Later, he said that he reestablished relations with the Saharawi Arab Republic.
In 1984, the late former president Fernando Belaúnde (1963-1968 and 1980-1985) recognized this nation for the first time. However, former President Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) suspended relations with the Saharawi Arab Republic in 1996.
On the other hand, Castillo added that they recognize the sovereignty of Argentina in the Malvinas Islands (Falkland Islands) and “demanded the beginning of consultations and negotiations to achieve this imperative objective.” Peru tried unsuccessfully to be a mediator in the conflict between its South American counterpart and the United Kingdom in 1982.
Gattas Abugattas, Master in Diplomacy and International Relations from the Diplomatic School of Spain, mentioned to the VOA that “President Castillo is managing foreign policy according to his personal tastes rather than in response to the country’s interests.” He gave Palestine as an example.
“Peru, a few years ago, recognized Palestine as a State. But, being such a controversial issue in which we have always had a very cautious position and following the line of the UN in the sense of inviting the parties to find a peaceful solution to the problem, establishing a diplomatic representation seems to me a sin sense and announce it in the United Nations, much worse”, he analyzed.
Abugattas explained that Castillo puts Peru in a very uncomfortable situation not only with Israel and Palestine, but also with the blocs of countries that support each party involved in the conflict. He also has the same reading with what the president said about the conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the Malvinas.
“The mere fact that Peru recognizes that there is a disputed territory [las Malvinas], implies a certain support for Argentina’s position. It is a measured, thoughtful and cautious support that proposes a friendly solution with the United Kingdom. However, what is the need to assert Argentine sovereignty in the Malvinas at this time”, he opined.
The specialist considered that Peru unnecessarily opens diplomatic impasses with Israel and the United Kingdom. “I believe that President Castillo’s behavior is guided more in favoring friendly governments instead of the country’s interests,” he concluded.
voids
Former Foreign Minister Luis González Posada told the VOA that President Castillo’s speech was “disappointing” because, compared to his South American counterparts, he made no mention of the human rights violations taking place in Venezuela and Nicaragua. “He did not say anything when a report circulated through the United Nations of the barbaric acts that are being carried out in these countries. Chile and Brazil, for example, did, ”he mentioned.
González Posada also questioned that the president has recognized a “non-existent State” such as the Sahahui Arab Republic. In addition, he believed that Castillo’s gesture of emphasizing Argentine sovereignty in the Malvinas would be of gratitude to the government of Alberto Fernández, who from the pro tempore presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) defended the permanence of the rural teacher when was subjected to a vacancy process last March.
The former diplomat criticized Castillo for referring to the Escazú Agreement, which has been rejected twice by Parliament because “it is aimed at giving power to NGOs that have links with the left to carry out investigations or when they consider denouncing mining operations. ”. “That, finally, hits the sovereignty of Peru,” he said.
González Posada pointed out that behind Castillo’s announcements at the United Nations would be the ambassadors Manuel Rodríguez Cuadros, Harold Forsyth and Óscar Maúrtua. The first are representatives of Peru in the OAS and the UN, respectively; while the last one is in Spain.
Opposition reactions in Peru
The opposition questioned President Castillo. “After Pedro Castillo’s speeches in the framework of the 77th UN General Assembly, he should no longer participate in these summits if he is not better advised. He does not realize that he represents the country and the only thing he does is put us to shame at the global level, ”said Alejandro Aguinaga, a parliamentarian from the Popular Force Party.
Norma Yarrow, a member of the Avanza País Party, indicated that “I am concerned about what the President of the Republic has said in his speech. He has accepted that there is corruption within the organs and ministries. So let’s hope that, with that reflection that he has made at the international level, he will come with other airs and take the pertinent actions ”.
Sources from the Foreign Relations Committee of the Peruvian Parliament told VOA that they will request explanations of President Castillo’s announcements from Foreign Minister César Landa, who will explain the government’s foreign policy in the coming days.
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