ANDEAN COMMUNITY SECGEN APPRECIATES ATPDEA EXTENSION

UNCLAS LIMA 004232 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR P, WHA/AND, WHA/EPSC, EB/TPP COMMERCE FOR 4331/MAC/WH/MCAMERON USTR FOR BHARMAN AND MCARRILLO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD PREL OPDC PE SUBJECT: ANDEAN COMMUNITY SECGEN APPRECIATES ATPDEA EXTENSION EFFORTS Andean Community Secretary-General Alfredo Fuentes (acting) sent a letter to the Ambassador on October 27, asking him to relay to the USG the Andean Community's thanks for President Bush's decision to request that the U.S. Congress extend the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA). A press release announcing this letter is available on the Andean Community's website at http: //www.comunidadandina.org/prensa/notas/np27-1 0-06.htm. An informal translation of the letter follows: Begin informal translation of letter. "Andean Community General Secretariat SG-C/1.13.13/2174/2006 Lima, October 27, 2006 Excellency, Mr. Ambassador: I have the honor to address Your Excellency to express through you to the Government of the United States the Andean Community's great satisfaction and gratitude for President George W. Bush's decision to request that the U.S. Congress extend the tariff preferences granted to the Andean countries under the ATPDEA, as announced by Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns in Bogota on October 24. This decision to request a temporary extension of the preferences contributes to strengthen the ties of cooperation and friendship between the United States and the Member States of the Andean Community. We hope that the Congress accepts this initiative for the benefit of the Andean workers and businessmen involved in exporting with preferential access. (Complementary close). (Signed) Alfredo Fuentes Hernandez Secretary General (Acting)" SIPDIS End text of letter. STRUBLE