- Title: GUATEMALA: Countries pledge $2 billion to fight Latin American drug cartels
- Date: 24th June 2011
- Summary: GUATEMALA CITY, GUATEMALA (JUNE 23, 2011) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF CONFERENCE OF SUPPORT FOR THE CENTRAL AMERICAN INTEGRATION SYSTEM (SICA) CONFERENCE BANNER CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS FLAGS OF PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS IN FRONT OF MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA, ALVARO COLOM SAYING: "I believe that they will respond with a policy that is balanced between their commitment between reducing drug consumption and the control of arms, money laundering and trade in chemicals. We know there have been talks for a few months between the European Union and the United States for a common strategy and Mrs. Clinton, I believe, has a very clear understanding of a shared responsibility on this issue." MORE OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS IN FRONT OF MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUATEMALA FOREIGN MINISTER, HAROLDO RODAS SAYING: "They have come to the conclusion that Central America spends $4 billion on security, however refundable and non refundable cooperation represents approximately $800 million dollars." CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS LEAVING THE CONFERENCE GENERAL VIEW OF CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 9th July 2011 18:59
- Keywords:
- Location: Guatemala, Guatemala
- Country: Guatemala
- Topics: Crime,International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVADCG8FZW2IF1OH9X81PCW8TCCU
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: As the United States and World Bank announced a series of aid packages totaling almost $2 billion to support security measures in Central America, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom said he was confident that the regional security conference had consolidated a shared global strategy against drug trafficking.
"I believe that they will respond with a policy that is balanced between their commitment between reducing drug consumption and the control of arms, money laundering and trade in chemicals. We know there have been talks for a few months between the European Union and the United States for a common strategy and Mrs. Clinton, I believe, has a very clear understanding of a shared responsibility on this issue," he said.
Leaders across the Americas banded together in Guatemala this week for the International Conference of Support for the Central American Integration System (SICA) where the World Bank announced it would provide $1 billion to the region and the United States pledged $300 million to support investment and security.
Australia, Germany and earthquake-stricken Japan also expressed support for the region.
With impoverished Central American countries pledging more of their limited resources to stop drug trafficking, Guatemala's Foreign Minister Haroldo Rodas urged the global community to continue to step up efforts against the multi-billion dollar drug trafficking industry, saying the figures they often use do not tell the whole story.
"They have come to the conclusion that Central America spends $4 billion on security, however refundable and non refundable cooperation represents approximately $800 million dollars," said Rodas.
Earlier in the week, conference participants told US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton that rich countries have a shared responsibility to tackle the problem.
With more than 60 percent of the cocaine bound for the U.S. passes through Guatemala and Mexico blaming its war on drugs on high consumer demand in the U.S. and the trafficking of arms into Mexico from the north, the region's leaders demanded solid commitments from rich countries to battle the flow of drugs through Central America and Mexico.
Rapidly-spreading violence has alarmed Central American leaders fueled by a spillover from Mexico's war on drug cartels. Mexico's notorious cartels have increasingly begun to use the region to transport drugs north, leaving a wave of violent crime in its wake.
In May, the bodies of 27 farmers were found in a mass grave in northern Guatemala; authorities believe the victims were killed by the deadly Mexican cartel, Los Zetas.
Just prior to that, April marked Mexico's most violent month since 2006 with 1,400 reported drug-related deaths. Also in April, over 200 bodies were discovered in a mass grave in northwestern Mexico, also linked to the cartels. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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