The Diplomat
The new Ambassador of Peru to Spain, Óscar Maúrtua, attended last week the meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Fundación Consejo España-Perú (FCEP), in what was his first official act immediately after the presentation of the Copies of his Letters of Credence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ambassador was received, on behalf of the trustees, by the president of the Fundación Consejo, Pedro Miras. Maúrtua was accompanied at the meeting by the State Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean and Spanish in the World, Juan Fernández Trigo, and the Spanish Ambassador to Peru, Alejandro Alvargonzález.
During the meeting (which took place on June 22, the same day as the presentation of the Copies), the Board of Trustees analyzed the results of the activities carried out during the first semester, planned the activities for the second semester of the year and discussed, through the testimony of government representatives from both countries, the state of bilateral relations.
In this regard, the State Secretary presented his analysis of the situation in Peru and the lines of action of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in recent months. He also acknowledged that the political dynamics of recent times in Peru have created a climate of uncertainty, but he also assured that the Spanish Government is confident that the path of stability will prevail and set the course.
According to Fernández Trigo, Peru is a strategic partner for Spain with which it shares values and interests and the same vision of international relations based on legality, cooperation and solidarity. Spain and Peru also have similar positions on the environment, women’s rights, water and sanitation, and education.
Juan Fernández Trigo also addressed in his speech the state of progress on the issues discussed during the past political consultations, held in November 2021, when the State Secretary himself traveled to Lima. The new Country Partnership Framework 2022-2025, which is expected to be signed this year, will focus on post-pandemic recovery in sectors such as gender equality, development of the regions, water and sanitation and environmental protection.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he continued, is closely monitoring the presence of Spanish companies in Peru and is working to have a double taxation avoidance agreement in place, which will provide the country with greater legal certainty, improving the investment climate and ensuring sustained economic growth. The Ministry will continue to support the Peruvian government in its efforts to encourage foreign investment and create new spaces for more sustainable, inclusive and supportive cities.
Maúrtua
For his part, Óscar Maúrtua was pleased that his first activity as ambassador was a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Spain-Peru Council Foundation. He also recalled that he had the opportunity to accompany President Pedro Castillo during his participation in the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, where he wanted to send a message of tranquility to the business community, offer greater confidence and decisively contribute to maintaining a balanced economy.
The Ambassador conveyed the same message to the Board of Trustees of the FCEP, as well as his commitment to contribute as a bridge between Spain and Peru so that there is a constructive dialogue that facilitates the search for solutions and opportunities. Maúrtua also expressed his intention to bring his country’s reality closer to the trustees and thus allow them to have a broader view of Peru.
Maúrtua, 75, a retired career diplomat, fills the vacancy left nine months ago by the previous ambassador, Claudio de la Puente, who stepped down after Pedro Castillo’s victory in Peru’s presidential elections. The new Peruvian ambassador was chosen by Castillo to head the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in August 2021, replacing the 85-year-old sociologist and former guerrilla Héctor Béjar, but the latter had to leave the post only 19 days after being appointed after claiming that the beginning of terrorism in the country was provoked by the Navy. Óscar Maúrtua was not at the head of the Peruvian Foreign Ministry for long either, since in February of this year he was relieved by César Landa, former president of the Constitutional Tribunal.
Óscar Maúrtua entered the Diplomatic Career more than 50 years ago and was for the first time Foreign Minister of his country during the Presidency of Alejandro Toledo, between 2005 and 2006, and Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic during the second term of Fernando Belaúnde. He has also been ambassador to Ecuador, Canada, Bolivia and Thailand, and representative of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Mexico.
