Peru is not at all as many may imagine, some kind of typical Third-World country. At least, Lima, the capital, is as First World as you can get. The city of some eight million inhabitants puts it in the league of the world's largest cities.
As a first-time visitor I am struck by the North American feel of the city, bristling with high rises and fronting directly on the Pacific Ocean. But the visible difference between Lima, from which I am writing, and, say, New York or Chicago, is the absolute orderliness of the former. I have not seen in any of the some 64 countries I have visited all over the globe, a city that appears in such excellent order and cleanliness as does Lima. There is not even the sight of one sidewalk vendor in a four-hour tour of the metropolis. So much for stereotypes.

But this article is not a travelogue, tempted though a writer is in the face of marvels of the world abounding here. Such, for instance, are the ruins of the ancient temple of the Inca civilisation of pre-historic times - an edifice constructed of mud blocks and covering some six hectares, preserved in the centre of the super-modern city of Lima. The irony of this preservation is the nearby presence of 15th century Catholic Church temples, their altars and fixtures in solid gold leaf cover, in this city of many manicured parks and beautiful green public spaces. In this ambience is taking place a summit of the European Union and the heads of state of Latin American and Caribbean countries. This summit is of signal importance to the development and sustainability of the entire region and no less to the economic and social development of Jamaica, in particular.

Bear in mind that the European Union is the major source of foreign aid for Jamaica, notwithstanding the more vocal and highly profiled foreign aid from the United States. In addition, the European Union "has consistently supported the regional integration process as a key factor in the region's development by encouraging countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to create strong ties with their neighbours and to organise themselves in institutionalised regional organisations". (Quoted from "The Strategic Partnership between the European Union, Latin American and the Caribbean; a Joint Commitment", a document published by the European Union as background material for the EU-LAC summit.) The emphasis on regional integration stresses the philosophical position of the EU, based on its own successful experience of integrating 27 European countries in a common trading bloc, without custom borders.

Underlying the significant connection between the EU and the LAC nations is what the document terms as "natural allies linked by strong historical, cultural and economic ties, as well as by their ever-increasing convergence of basic values and principles. They share a common commitment to human rights, democracy, good governance, multilateralism and social cohesion, and they cooperate to achieve these objectives. This makes them well-matched partners to address global challenges together." This Peru summit is one of regular summits of heads of state or government held during the last decade. The Peru summit is the fifth EU-LAC get-together and it is intended to consolidate the partnership.

Readers will be aware of the historic agreement, the new Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and the Caribbean in December 2007, which has provided protection for Caribbean exports to the EU for the next 25 years. The current summit is dealing with a wide variety of social, cultural and economic development. The topics include poverty, inequality, social inclusion, sustainable development, climate change, environment and energy. In addition, it will deal with the ongoing European Commission's projects related to humanitarian aid in Latin America and the Caribbean. It will review cooperation and collaboration in bilateral and regional as well as in thematic programmes. The European Commission (EC) delegations are of course the resident implementing arms for the EU policies and aid as well as partner collaboration in the various LAC countries. Jamaica's active EC delegation is headed by Ambassador Marco Allemani.

As far as the Caribbean partnership with the European Union is concerned, there has been since March 2006 a new enhanced EU-Caribbean partnership consisting of a set of interrelated facets. These include a political partnership based on shared values, in particular good and effective governance as a key to the consolidation of democracy, and addressing economic and environmental opportunities and vulnerabilities "focusing on support to regional integration and market building, increasing competitiveness as well as increasing the region's capacity in natural disaster management". This enhanced partnership also includes "promoting social cohesion and combating poverty, including the fight against HIV/AIDS, strengthening of health-care systems, as well as the fight against illicit drugs".

Prime Minister Bruce Golding heads Jamaica's delegation to the summit. He is among some 30 heads of state and governments from the LAC region. There are 27 top leaders from the European bloc. The meeting with the heads will take place on the 17th and 18th. In addition, there will be a mini-forum dealing with Caribbean concerns on the 17th. The 15th and 16th have been devoted to seminar sessions with journalists meeting with various top officials of the European Commission in intimate presentation and question-and-answer sessions. There are some 26 of us journalistic types involved in these seminars.

I am grateful to the European Union for inviting me through the EC delegation in Jamaica, and the Observer for assisting in my media accreditation as a representative at this important summit.

- browngeof@hotmail.com

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