GUATEMALA: Guatemalan and American troops conduct humanitarian operation in Guatemala.

Record ID: 702279

  • Title: GUATEMALA: Guatemalan and American troops conduct humanitarian operation in Guatemala.
  • Date: 29th June 2012
  • Summary: FLAG OF THE CREOMPAZ REGIONAL TRAINING FOR PEACE MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS GENERAL VIEW OF CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROBERTA JACOBSON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS, SAYING: "You have demonstrated your constructive and persistent will. The United States and Guatemala share a common interest in guaranteeing the security and prosperity of our people." VARIOUS OF TROOPS AT CEREMONY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OTTO PEREZ MOLINA, PRESIDENT OF GUATEMALA, SAYING: "Medical visits were conducted, and medical facilities and schools were also built, as well as roads and bridges that benefit the various communities through the co-operation that took place between the armed forces of the United States and the Guatemalan Army. This shows and is a symbol of the good relations that we are working to strengthen between the United States and Guatemala." GENERAL VIEW OF GUATEMALAN SOLDIERS GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE GENERAL VIEW OF NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ROBERTA JACOBSON, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS, SAYING: "This means that we are supporting the efforts of Central American governments and civil society in the fight against organized crime. We have a very fruitful relationship with the Guatemalan government and we are augmenting our initiatives in these countries, in North America, in Central America, in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. That was announced by President Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena." ROBERTA JACOBSON WITH PRESIDENT OTTO PEREZ MOLINA
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Guatemala
  • Country: Guatemala
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5KZIOVEWIKEDFQZ736OGFBDM4
  • Story Text: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemispheric Affairs Roberta Jacobson on Thursday (June 28) met with Guatemalan and U.S. troops participating in training exercises and humanitarian operations in the Central American country.
    The five-day medical readiness exercise is part of the U.S. military Southern Command's "Beyond the Horizon" mission, one of the Southern Command's largest annual humanitarian and civic assistance efforts.
    As part of the operation, almost 1,300 military engineers and medical professionals provided dental, medical, veterinary and engineering support for Guatemalan communities, with simultaneous projects in Honduras.
    "You have demonstrated your constructive and persistent will. The United States and Guatemala share a common interest in guaranteeing the security and prosperity of our people," Jacobson said at the exercise's closing ceremony.
    As part of the operation, US naval construction personnel - or "Seabees" - based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia oversaw the construction of a new school and two new medical clinics and renovated two other schools and another clinic.
    "Medical visits were conducted, and medical facilities and schools were also built, as well as roads and bridges that benefit the various communities through the co-operation that took place between the armed forces of the United States and the Guatemalan Army. This shows and is a symbol of the good relations that we are working to strengthen between the United States and Guatemala," Guatemalan President Otto Molina Perez said at the ceremony.
    Jacobson said the humanitarian efforts are part of U.S. efforts to combat drug trafficking and organized crime which has become rampant in Central America.
    "This means that we are supporting the efforts of Central American governments and civil society in the fight against organized crime. We have a very fruitful relationship with the Guatemalan government and we are augmenting our initiatives in these countries, in North America, in Central America, in Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. That was announced by President Obama at the Summit of the Americas in Cartagena," she said.
    Similar operations were recently concluded in Honduras and another operation is underway in Peru.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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