The President of Argentina, General Jorge Rafael Videla, arrived in Lima, Peru, on Thursday (3 March) for a three day official visit.

SYNOPSIS: President Videla's plane landed at a military air base near Lima, where Peruvian President Francisco Morales Bermudez was waiting to greet his Argentinian counterpart. President Videla was accompanied by his wife, Alicia Raquel Hartridge de Videla and a high-ranking delegation. Security arrangements at the air base were rigorous and personnel belonging to international news organisations were kept well away from the Presidential party. Only local newsmen were allowed in close.

After the greetings came the official welcoming ceremonies --and again security was very much the order of the day. The Lima newspaper "El Comercio" described the visit as that of "one sister nation to another", contributing to the strengthening of their traditional friendship and helping towards the development of co-operation between Argentina and Peru.

Later the same day President Bermudez gave a reception for President Videla and his party at the Presidential Palace in Lima. This followed a round of talks, during which social and economic problems of Argentina and Peru were discussed.

Talks on broader issues such as problems relating to the southern hemisphere and the present world situation were also on the agenda for General Videla's visit. During the reception President Bermudez invested President Videla with the Order of the Sun of Peru.