Obama meets new president of Peru

[Enrique]

this should get the RW howling. :thumbsup:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hgOmiobqjFDyEBbtGSmn8jZ5zsFw?docId=CNG.3b2030ffd74a10d7b1d27f56ca481e62.41

WASHINGTON — Peru's leftist president-elect Ollanta Humala had a surprise meeting with President Barack Obama -- a welcome bit of US outreach ahead of his inauguration later this month.

Humala earlier aligned himself with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a fierce and vocal critic of the United States.

But the Peruvian on the campaign trail and at least for now has tempered his rhetoric, amid fears in Peru he could undo his country's solid economic growth after his July 28 inauguration.

While meeting at the White House with National Security Adviser Tom Donilon, Humala, though not on an official visit, had a welcome bit of friendly personal diplomacy as Obama popped in to chat, the White House said.

Obama and Humala "discussed the importance of coupling sound market-based economic policies with efforts to increase economic and social inclusion, noting the significant success enjoyed by those countries in the Americas that have adopted such an approach," a White House statement said.

"President Obama underscored the United States' commitment to supporting similar efforts in Peru," it added.

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