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CNN Live Saturday

President Bush Visits Peru

Aired March 23, 2002 - 17:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KATE SNOW, CNN ANCHOR: Mr. Bush is the first sitting U.S. president to visit Peru. He says he wants to reaffirm the importance of U.S. relations with that region. CNN White House correspondent Kelly Wallace is traveling with the president. She joins us from Lima, live with more details -- Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Kate. This definitely an historic trip, and one President Bush said he definitely was not going to cancel, even after that deadly car bombing outside the U.S. embassy earlier this week. The president saying no two-bit terrorist would keep him away.

Still, the war on terror looming over this visit. And as you said, Kate, security, incredibly, incredibly tight. Now, the president and first lady receiving a very, very warm welcome at an elaborate arrival ceremony here, greeted by Peruvian President Toledo and the first lady of Peru at this hour. In fact, Mr. Bush and President Toledo are meeting behind closed doors. The president saying he wanted to come here and focus on trade, also the battle against drugs, and also to see if there is anything more the U.S. can do to prevent any resurgence in terrorist activity in this country.

Now, again, security intense. The Peruvian military on the highest alert. More than 7,000 officers on the streets, on the lookout, trying to prevent anything from going wrong. The area where the president will be spending most of his time, around the presidential palace, really cordoned off.

And Kate, as you also said earlier on this day, police reported that 10 small, homemade bombs exploded in eastern Lima, quite a ways away from where President Bush will be. As you said, no damage, no one hurt. But clearly, obviously, a concern, certainly, for the Peruvian security officials here.

Also, the Peruvian police really clamping down on protests. This was the scene outside the hotel where the media, the American media is staying. Some anti-American demonstrators taking to the streets. The Peruvian police firing tear gas to disrupt those protests.

Now, as for items on the agenda, when it comes to trade, Mr. Bush to use his visit to press Congress to renew and expand a law really giving special trading privileges to Peru and some of the other Andean nations. What it would do is eliminating tariffs on some of their exports to the United States. Really, U.S. officials say this is one way to battle the drug trade.

And speaking of the drug trade, Kate, coca production on the rise in Peru. Peru would like the U.S. to resume those drug surveillance flights that were suspended last year after that horrible tragedy when an American missionary plane was mistakenly identified as a drug smuggling flight and shot down; an American woman and her infant child killed.

President Bush telling reporters yesterday, Kate, he has not made up his mind on whether to resume those flights. We're not expecting any decision on this trip. Kate, back to you.

SNOW: And Kelly, one other issue. Lori Berenson, the young American woman who is in jail in Peru. Her parents very badly want the president to bring up her case when he meets with the Peruvian president. Do we know if he's going to bring it up?

WALLACE: We don't know. It is unclear. Senior officials telling us yesterday it's one of the items on the agenda, items that the U.S. and Peru certainly to talk about. It will really be President Bush's decision if he is going to raise the issue.

And Kate, as you know, Lori Berenson saying that she's been mischaracterized as a terrorist, that she was really working when it comes to social justice. It's sort of a dicey issue for Mr. Bush, because he has really clamped down on any type of terrorism all around the world, so it's unclear if he'll raise this issue. U.S. officials saying it's really up to the president himself -- Kate.

SNOW: OK. Kelly Wallace, reporting live from Lima, Peru. Thanks, Kelly.

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