PASTRANA MEETS PERUVIAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS

LIMA, Peru -- Colombian President Andres Pastrana on Monday met with
Peruvian presidential hopeful Alejandro Toledo, as part of a three-day
official visit here aimed at strengthening political and commercial ties
between the neighboring Latin American nations.

The two spoke for 50 minutes on the struggle against illegal drug
trafficking, terrorism and trade at Pastrana's hotel El Olivar, located in
the capital's affluent San Isidro neighborhood.

Toledo arrived at the meeting accompanied by his wife Eliane Karp and
members of his campaign team.

Pastrana is due to meet with Toledo's opponent for the presidency, Alan
Garcia, on Tuesday, before his scheduled 1200 GMT departure back to Colombia.

Earlier in the day, the Colombian leaders met with Peruvian interim
President Valentin Paniagua, while their respective foreign ministers
signed agreements designed to spur bilateral trade and investment.

Pastrana also took the opportunity to visit the headquarters of the
Community of Andean Nations, where he underlined the importance of the
five-nation trade group in the regional fight against the illegal arms and
narcotics trades.

Pastrana was accompanied on his three-day official visit here by Colombia's
Foreign Minister Guillermo Fernandez de Soto, Development Minister Augusto
Ramirez, military chief General Fernando Tapias, Proexport director Angela
Orozco and his wife Nohora Puyana.