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Article Excerpt
In anticipation of the visit of Thomas Shannon, US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Central American authorities planned to ask the US for aid for a regional-security strategy. Guatemala's Government Minister Adela de Torrebiarte said earlier in July that the request would be made upon Shannon's July 17 arrival in Guatemala. The security strategy was the advertised purpose of the visit, during which Shannon was scheduled to meet with President Oscar Berger and regional security officials, but perhaps the most important items were a controversial measure to end impunity in the country and US treatment of Guatemalan migrants.
The strategy is divided into a number of specific projects under the rubrics of narcotraffic, traffic in persons, crime prevention, corruption, and border protection at a projected cost of US$600 million. US President George W. Bush proposed developing the strategy when he visited Guatemala in March (see NotiCen, 2007-03-15). The president left without specifying how much money he would contribute.
In view of the US$600 million estimate, Shannon arrived bearing a meager gift. He told his hosts his country would put up US$1 million to help Central America draft a regional strategy to fight gangs and drug trafficking. Flanked by President Berger and Vice President Eduardo Stein, the assistant secretary told the media, "We can improve collaboration in the fight against organized crime, especially against gangs, drug traffickers, and illegal arms dealers. We are going to designate US$1 million to programs that are in development through SICA [Sistema de la Integracion Centroamericana]."
Seemingly aware there may have been some disappointment with the size of his gift, Shannon added, "We will return to the US and ask the...
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More articles from NotiCen: Central American & Caribbean Affairs
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