Peru's president urges "silence" on controversial remarks by army commander
2/12/2008 15:57
President Alan Garcia yesterday called for "silence" on controversial
remarks concerning Chile that were made by the general commander of the Peruvian
army.
Feneral Edwin Donayre had said that in case of an invasion, each
"Chilean who enter will not exit, or exit inside a coffin" during a private
meeting at the end of last year.
"In Peru, we are ready to declare about
anything, always, without knowing that the best way is silence," Garcia told
reporters.
The general's remarks were broadcast on Nov. 24 by a Peruvian TV
station, and provoked bitterness amongst Chileans.
Chilean Foreign Minister
Alejandro Foxley said an impasse between the two countries couldn't be surpassed
without Donayre's exit from the army. Donayre is expected to retire on Dec.
5.
Alan Garcia immediately replied by saying that Peru did not accept any
order or pressure from a foreign country.
Donayre had sent a letter to his
Chilean counterpart to apologize, saying that he had made the remarks in a
certain context. However, he refused to subdue to the pressure and
resign.
Nelson Avila, a Chilean senator from the ruling party, noted that
there existed a "historical understanding" between Chile and Peru, adding that
any opinion or sharp remark from the military "will not become an obstacle for
the development of the ties" between the countries.
In the wake of the
impasse, Peruvian Defense Minister Antero Flores-Araoz has declined to
participate in a Chilean naval exhibition scheduled for yesterday.
Xinhua
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