Pubdate: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2002 The New York Times Company Contact: http://www.nytimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298 Author: The Associated Press Note: edited for Drug War content PRESIDENT BUSH'S COMMENTS IN PERU Excerpts of statements made by President Bush and Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo during a news conference held in Lima, Peru, on Saturday, as reported by The Associated Press. QUESTION: President Bush, you are in a region now that's been devastated by terrorism and subversion and drug trafficking for over three decades. You are offering us the Peace Corps. I would ask you if you're willing, as president of the most powerful nation on earth, to lead a Marshall Plan for South America? BUSH: I appreciate that. I think I said more than just the Peace Corps, if I'm not mistaken, in my opening comments. Obviously, our nation is committed to this part of the world. I have come to Peru as the first sitting president to express our solidarity with Peru and the people, as well as expressed my appreciation for a reformer who got elected who's willing to defend the institutions that make democracy go. I'll repeat, if you'd like me to, go through the litany of things I just said: the Andean Trade Preference Act, bilateral action on investment, money for education, money to fight drugs. We've tripled the amount of money, I believe it was $50 million up to $195 million, available. And so, I think our commitment is -- I think our commitment speaks for itself. And I appreciate so very much the chance to come and explain it to the Peruvian people, that ours is more than just words. Ours is deeds and action. - --- MAP posted-by: Josh