(LIP-ir) -- During a meeting, Peru's Prime Minister, Jorge del Castillo defended the mining project proposed by President Alan Garcia. Peru's President proposed that 20 mining projects should be given the utmost importance and considered a national priority.

Del Castillo stated that the members of Peru's congress which opposed the proposal to prioritize the mining projects wanted to continue living in the stone age and were giving Peru a bad name.

"There are congressmen, that for ideological reasons, are against the development and success of the government, wanting to live in the stone age," said Peru's Premier during a meeting with the Mining and Energy Commission.

The Head of Peru's Council of Ministers was invited to the meeting to explain the controversial Minera Majaz mining project in Piura, Peru as well as give reasons for the government's decision to propose a project which declared 20 mining projects a national priority.

Del Castillo explained that the proposal had been made so that more companies would invest in Peru while the price of minerals was increasing. On the other hand, the commission's presidency requested that the proposal be withdrawn because it would create more social conflict.

Peru's Premier stated that the proposal would not be withdrawn