Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist July 2018 | Page 15

The fi rst Chief of Mission appointed by the Government
of Peru was Minister Eduardo Sarmiento Calmet, who
presented his Letters of Credence as Minister Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of Peru to India on 6th May 1963, to
the President of India, H.E. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.
In order to further strengthen their friendly relations,
the Governments of both countries decided to upgrade
their diplomatic representation to the Embassy level on
1st March 1964.
Following that decision, in June 1964, Minister
Sarmiento was accredited as Ambassador of Peru to the
Republic of India. Initially the offi ces of the Peruvian
Embassy were located in the Hotel Ashoka. Later, on 6th
April 1966, the new offi ces of the Embassy of Peru were
offi cially opened in a building at D-20, Defence Colony,
New Delhi.
Traditionally, the Ambassadors of Peru in India are also
concurrently accredited to Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal
and Sri Lanka. Until 2017, they were also accredited to Iran.
The Indian Ambassador in Chile Mr. Perala Ratnam,
was concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Peru in April
1964. Then in May 1969, a Trade Economic Delegation
from India visited Peru, wherein they signed a statement,
informing that the Indian diplomatic mission was going
to be opened in Lima. In September 1969, India opened
its resident diplomatic Mission in Lima at Paseo de la
República.
Since then, the Ambassador of India in Peru is also
concurrently accredited to Bolivia.
From 14th-16th May 1969, a ten-member Indian Trade
and Economic Delegation led by Sri Rammath A. Podar
visited Peru and held discussions with the Ministries
of Foreign Affairs, Commerce and Industry, as well as
with the Chamber of Commerce and some of the main
banks in Peru such as the Central Reserve Bank of Peru,
Banco Industrial del Peru, Banco de Crédito del Peru,
and a number of leading businessmen and industrialists.
A Statement of Common Objectives was agreed as result
of the discussions (see ANNEXURE 1).
Since the state visit made by the Peruvian President,
Alan Garcia, in January 1987, as chief guest, for India’s
Republic Day celebrations, there has been an increasing
political, economic and business content to the bilateral
relationship between Peru and India.
During the aforementioned visit which lasted from
23rd to 29th January, a Cultural Agreement was concluded
framing cooperation between the two countries in various
fi elds of culture. The University of Delhi conferred an
honorary degree of Doctor of Law on President Alan Garcia
at a function at Vigyan Bhavan. During his stay in Delhi,
President Garcia also took part in the Africa Fund Summit
between 24th-25th January.
Amb. Rene Hooper Lopez gives a presentation on
Peru to Smt. Indira Gandhi in 1971
UN Secretary General Amb. Javier Perez de Cuellar confers UN
Population Award to Smt. Indira Gandhi in 1983
In May, 1997, the Peruvian President, Alberto Fujimori
accompanied by a 39-member delegation visited India in order
to reinforce the progressive change of the vision of Asia as a new
axis of the international and economic relations. Additionally,
the visit provided an excellent opportunity to enhance awareness
among Peruvians about India’s industrial capabilities.
President Alan Garcia arrives to India for an offi cial visit in 1987
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 7 • July 2018, Noida • 15