USA-GUATEMALA/SHANNON On Guatemala trip, State Department's Shannon underscores humble US role in Central America

Record ID: 147769

  • Title: USA-GUATEMALA/SHANNON On Guatemala trip, State Department's Shannon underscores humble US role in Central America
  • Date: 10th July 2015
  • Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (FILE) (REUTERS) PROTESTER HOLDING UP NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGE THAT READS, "LOOTERS OF THE PEOPLE" WITH IMAGE OF PEREZ GENERAL VIEW OF PROTEST PROTESTER HOLDING UP SIGN THAT READS "GET OUT THIEVES" MASKED PROTESTERS HOLDING UP A BANNER VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MAKING NOISE WITH DRUMS AND INSTRUMENTS GENERAL VIEW OF PROTEST
  • Embargoed: 25th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Guatemala
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0BOBKDU39TR4KTNNERLVFD7Q
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: U.S. Ambassador Thomas Shannon, Counselor of the Department of State, was in Guatemala on Thursday (July 09) as part of a regional tour to strengthen ties in which he is emphasising a humble role for the United States.
    The five-day tour also took Shannon to Honduras and El Salvador before wrapping up in Guatemala's city of Puerto Barrios.
    Shannon's delegation includes representatives from the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Justice.
    Among the issues on the table were the implementation of the U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America, a working strategy to address the root causes of the migration of children and families to the United States.
    Speaking to media, Shannon said the U.S. was looking to enter a new phase in its relationship with Central America.
    "We're going to continue to work with the President (Otto Perez) and the constitutional and democratic government of Guatemala, just like we're continuing to work in El Salvador and Honduras. It's not our idea to intervene here or to impose solutions. On the contrary we're building a new phase in our relations with the countries of the northern triangle (of Central America)," he said.
    President Barack Obama's fiscal 2016 budget includes $1 billion in new aid for Central America to address its emigration epidemic that saw more than 60,000 unaccompanied children travel to the United States last year from the region.
    But the U.S. overture comes amidst a graft scandal that has rocked Guatemala.
    Guatemalans have staged major protests against Perez's centre-right government, which has become swamped by corruption allegations ahead of presidential elections in September. Perez is barred by Guatemalan law from seeking re-election.
    Shannon said it was the responsibility of the government to respond to the popular demands of its citizens.
    "When I see protests like that I don't see them as against something but rather in favour of something, in favour of a citizen's right to have a voice, to demand something of their government. It is the responsibility of the government to respond. For us, what we have said clearly is that the protests are safe and dignified. But governments should respond," he said.
    A number of high-ranking government officials have resigned, including Vice President Roxana Baldetti and a number of cabinet ministers, as will as many public servants arrested, including the head of Guatemala's Central Bank.
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