 You all are having entirely too much fun. I don't know whether this is a College homecoming planning committee meeting with beer or if everybody is actually here to Learn about this important subject, but I'm delighted that we have such a huge crowd this afternoon Want to wish you a warm welcome and say how gratifying it is to see so many subject matter experts People that I recognize and that our guests recognize in the audience Truly have a lot of expertise on this issue of Central American security My name is Steve Johnson. I'm director of the America's program here at CSIS I'm the guy that gets up and tells you that we'd like to have you put your cell phones on stun or thrill mode throughout the the presentation and also the person who Says that when it comes time for the questions and answers That we would like you to identify Yourself and also your organization before your Question and try to keep them since there's a lot of people here that will want to have interface with our guests If you would keep your questions fairly short or if you're prone to commentary to keep that also short Six years ago it was novel to see the Central American ambassadors in one room Coordinating their lobbying efforts on the capital on the DR CAFTA trade agreements and now it is equally impressive to see the national leaders of these countries Coordinating security policies and reaching out to Mexico and Columbia to mesh efforts in fighting transnational criminal Organizations drug traffickers and gangs Not only is our featured speaker And featured guests the leader of a pioneering organization that has grown in confidence and competency since its birth in 1991 but I'm pleased to know that Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of American States Albert Ramden is also with us this afternoon and He's right here in the front row and I'd like to say that as a former representative of the Caribbean Community who knows a thing or two about cooperation He's been especially supportive of the SICA process and Instrumental in helping the two subregions the Caribbean and Central America Strengthen their relations. So really want to thank you very much for your presence here Mr. Secretary General for being with us. I also see that we have Ambassador Francisco Altschul of El Salvador with us want to recognize him and also Ambassador Francisco Campbell Hooker of Nicaragua is with us as well, and I hope I haven't missed anybody in that crew and Of course, we're glad to have all of you with us When I was a military attaché in Central America a long time ago and Diana Negroponte remembers this She sort of took me under her wing at that time where I Kept me on the straight and narrow You probably remember that drug trafficking and criminality was barely on the radar screen People were aware of the problems But the East-West conflict looms so large over all policy matters that it wasn't until the 1990s that lawmakers and senior leaders began to really take notice Now these problems stand taller as threats almost than conflicts between states. I Could go on in this fashion, but the real experts this afternoon have yet to speak and here to introduce our main speaker and invited guest is one of them My good friend and colleague Eric Farnsworth vice president of the Council of the Americas and America's Society Eric the podium is yours Well, thank you very much Steve We are a mutual admiration society because I could go on about you and CSIS and the terrific job that you and your colleagues do here it is a real privilege for the Council of the Americas and me personally to Join the CSIS for what we anticipate is going to be a very timely and important program And we're very pleased to have the opportunity to continue to bring some focus and hopefully some clarity as well to this topic today It's also a privilege to join such a distinguished and knowledgeable group of speakers this afternoon for our discussions. We've assembled We believe a very top group and we look forward to their insights as well Ladies and gentlemen central America is it a dangerous crossroads? That's a direct quote from a report that was just issued on Late last week by the US Senate caucus on international narcotics control and it's a report that was issued in fact Just as leaders from the region including our own Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and also our keynote speaker today We're meeting in New York is a follow-up to their June meeting in Guatemala Which discuss the Central American security strategy, which most if not all of you are very familiar with already and Indeed in my view Central America is at a dangerous crossroads an inflection point if you will and The high-level attention that is now focusing on the region and on these issues on these issues is an important signal That regional governments and also friends of the region are taking these issues quite seriously Led by State Department Assistant Secretary Bill Brownfield whom CSIS and the Council of the Americas and other Organizations were honored to jointly host in August the US government has developed a new More comprehensive strategy to address the deteriorating situation in the region The government has pledged some three hundred million dollars in new and reprogrammed funds and others including the World Bank and the IDV Have plus that up great government expression plus that up to around one billion dollars That's not an insignificant sum particularly at a time of budget constraints As we've seen from the Mexico experience with the Merida initiative, however It takes time for funds to be obligated equipment to be procured personnel to be trained and Unforeseen challenges to be overcome and in the meantime a region of great policy interest to the United States Historically is being challenged in some ways to its very core The institutions of mostly young fragile democracies are being hollowed out Corrupted by drug traffickers and the allies impunity is rampant and the police and security forces in several countries have been Penetrated by the drug gangs Even as the hemisphere has just celebrated the ten-year anniversary of the inter-american Democratic Charter The health of democracy in Central America and the ability of democracy to deliver a better life for its citizens Is increasingly uncertain More can and should be done creative thinking to address a common threat is required From the United States in addition to the very positive steps that were agreed by regional leaders We can reduce the demand for drugs at home and the supply of weapons and money that go abroad We can begin to link illegal drug use publicly to death and destruction in Central America and the broader region much as the blood diamond and conflict minerals campaigns have effectively done in parts of Africa in The interim time period it takes to produce new to procure new material for Central America We can consider the transfer of excess equipment as appropriate from the downsizing of the effort in Iraq Where according to press reports a mad dash is now underway to expose of excess stocks Other steps could also be considered Of course the region to has obligations not the least of which is raising additional resources on its own behalf Most importantly the region must begin to think and act regionally as Steve was alluding to in his comments To improve coordination and effectiveness create economies of scale and reduce the ability of the drug traffickers and illegal gangs to Arbitrage the institutions of governance between individual nations in a bid to exploit weaknesses wherever they may exist Clearly ladies and gentlemen the challenge before us collectively is immense Nobody should underestimate the effort that will be required But if we work together with purpose and resolve, I believe we'll be able to address the issues effectively and successfully and That is precisely why we are so pleased to have with us this afternoon our keynote speaker Juan Aleman Gurdean the Secretary General of the Central American Integration System or SICA The Secretary General has enjoyed a long and successful career in the private sector, and he's also held senior positions in national governor He's a visionary He is one of those who played an important role in the development of the SICA concept And the organization now finds itself at the very nexus of regional efforts to reduce violence and to restore confidence The Secretary General has proven to be an effective leader as the mediums in Guatemala and New York, which I previously mentioned Can attest And so we are very pleased that in the midst of his consultations here in Washington The Secretary General has indeed carved out a bit of his time to be able to join us today to bring important perspective and understanding To this discussion this afternoon ladies and gentlemen, would you please join me in welcoming the Secretary General of SICA Dr. Juan Aleman Gurdean Excellencies ambassadors of SICA and other members of the diplomatic corps high-level US government officials distinguished panelists other public and private sector officials Invities and friends from the press It is a duty for us in Central America to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to present our message On the topic outlined in the title of this encounter a greater regional Response to criminal activities in Central America Which in our opinion is very important to all of us? I would like to thank the joint sponsorship of the Center of Strategic and International Studies CSIS and the Council for the for this America of these Americas for sponsoring this event and CSIS for making it possible We're especially grateful to our good friends Eric and Steven and Michael In other in in order to make the best of this of the time and listen to our distinguished Panelists and the audiences I will proceed immediately to establish why the Central American Security Dilemma requires a greater Regional response and why the USA most lead the proceed and as it has With your permission, we are going to have a video Immediately and then I will continue my remarks At the end of the decade of the 80s the Central American presidents subscribed the Tegucigalpa protocol With the purpose of resolving through dialogue and negotiation the political military conflicts faced by some countries in the region This was the procedure meant to establish firm and lasting peace in the region Countries in conflict began a process of voluntary disarmament and reduction of their military forces Which led to the strengthening of a climate of trust and security Central Americans then began to engage in the moral and material reconstruction of their societies The Central American region started to make headway towards a climate of peace freedom democracy and development where regional security seemed to be assured Nevertheless economic challenges and natural disasters have shaped the region in these past two decades To date there has been partial success in the region But there is still work to be done to rebuild the social and economic fabric So weakened after many years of violence that left a legacy of massive migration family breakdown absence of values and a lack of respect towards life Additional to these hardships one must consider that the privileged and strategic Geographic location of Central America represents a factor which while providing great opportunities for development has also become its greatest liability The Central American Isthmus is a contact point between north and south east and west Unfortunately, it also bridges the biggest drug producers and consumers in the world As a result Central America today is facing a crossroads Highly organized criminal groups whose sophistication and armament continuously becomes more technical Engage in a growing number of illegal activities Among which the most prominent are drug trafficking by land sea and air routes smuggling of chemical precursors money laundering smuggling and trafficking in persons as well as trafficking of small and light weapons Likewise gang activity mainly affects young people in the region Other equally serious problems that affect the population are the kidnapping extortion robbery and vehicle theft industries among others There are several factors enabling the activities of criminal groups in Central American countries including among others the weaknesses within the security and justice systems as Well as the deficiencies in investigative capacity and criminal intelligence all of which have led to the fast spreading of the problem As Central Americans we are concerned and aware of the fact that all of the efforts We have put forth to promote security have a significant impact on social investment Since the resources which should be allocated to health Education and the improvement of the population's standard of living Need to be redirected to issues related to security Within this context in Central America. We are facing the following dilemma security or welfare Thus we believe it is necessary to establish improved levels of coordination and cooperation within the local national regional and international context today more than ever we must intensify the battle not only in countries that produce Illegal drugs but also in countries where there is consumption of the drugs that traverse our territory For this reason it is vital that on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility We assume a solidary commitment in the fight against organized crime Through the broad and sustained support from allied and partner countries as well as from international organizations Central America has made efforts and sacrifices to provide a significant contribution to regional Hemispheric and international security But its capacities have been overwhelmed by the magnitude of this phenomenon the numbers clearly demonstrate that this is the case Over 43 million people living in Central America Have engaged in the task of promoting a vast citizens movement against violence and insecurity In response to this social outcry the governments of Sika countries have agreed on a security strategy Which includes a milestone of great magnitude to address the problems of violence lack of citizen security and organized crime The Central American security strategy Outlines the components and activities necessary to strengthen the security of the people of Central America and their assets Thus allowing our population to meet the objectives of human development It also strives to integrate the multiple efforts existing in the region to promote security in order to harmonize them and to manage material financial Technological and human resources that are demanded by the institutions in charge of protecting and contributing to security Nevertheless this strategy and its plan of action require adequate resources for their implementation Additional to those that each country of the region already contributes Therefore it is urgent to count with the political technical and financial support of the international community The international cooperation annually disperses funds to citizen security programs in Central America These amounts represent between 2.5 and 4% of the total costs that the governments of the region have to invest in citizen security In other words the international cooperation provides one out of every forty dollars provided by the states of the region A large part of this international contribution is earmarked for justice and violence prevention programs for at-risk populations And very little of it goes to the components of crime fighting and Attentury centers and institutional strengthening Two-thirds of these contributions are channeled through national states and the rest is allocated to local governments NGOs and universities Only 1% of the cooperation is channeled through regional institutional agencies The Central American integration system in compliance with the mandates of the heads of state is Managing the international support provided for the implementation of the Central American security strategy The joint efforts of SICA supporting countries and international organizations Led to a process of consultations and meetings as well as to technical and political work to facilitate the organization The first international conference for the support to the Central American security strategy This international conference Consolidates a substantial political commitment at the highest level between Central America and the international community on the basis of the principle of shared responsibility Laying the groundwork for a solid and sustainable foundation of cooperation to address the needs for a secure peaceful Democratic free and developed Central America The first international conference for the support of the Central American security strategy Coincides with a momentous time in the life of the region The thousands of lives that are lost every year Including those of young persons and children women and the elderly who are victims of violence on our streets and cities Are a tragic reminder of the seriousness of this threat the rise in violence and criminality indices is yielding terrible economic political and social consequences for our peoples and Threatens to worsen if these trends are not reverted soon This is why the Central American governments with the support of the international community Have prepared a regional Comprehensive and coordinated response. This response has been called the Central American security strategy This initiative is a firm step in the fight by SICA countries against organized crime and violence All decisions adopted shall define the future of Central America That is to say a legal or illegal Central America a Central America living in peace or a violent Central America an Authoritarian Central America or a democratic Central America There is no time to lose We must ensure the success of this fight and Become a Central America that lives in peace freedom democracy and development Central America is comprised of seven countries at least one a mile and south of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama the region has an estimated area of 523,000 square kilometers and its coastline extends from for more than 5600 square kilometers Central America has a population of almost 48 millions inhabitants of which 59% Received in urban areas It is also an areas prone. Thank you To natural disaster which have increased in recent years and drained public sectors resources from governments The unique geographic locations of Central America put it in a peculiar Situations on one side it provides tremendous opportunity for developments and global integration On the other hand it makes it very vulnerable The eithmus is to point of the contact between the north and the south of the continent between East and west the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans But it also the route used for transnational organized crime to other illicit markets as I will elaborate further on Almost seems Designing of the Tegucigalpa protocol to the organization of Central American states in 1991 Which established the Central American integration system? Central America has had Its own regional security model based on a reasonable balance of power the strengthening of civil society a focus on Elevations of extreme poverty the promotion of sustainable development the eradication of violence Corruption terrorism drug drug trafficking and arms trafficking this model has been encompassed an Institute into the framework treat treaty on the democratic security sign in December 1995 which is the legal instrument that establishes principles from the democratic security perspective The security situation in Central America is characterized by problems related to transnational organized crime Which which represents structural and geographic challenges including drug traffics trafficking organizations that have many manage the extent their Outrage of influence to different regions in the American continent and have penetrated through our borders today organized crime is multi-dimensional All thought drug trafficking is a principal activity. It is not the only one. It has become Major problem that pro-central American presents a The diversification of their illicit activities Ranging from drug trafficking human trafficking Treatment of person extortions arms trafficking violent craft crime money to launder and Forgery of documents among others among others the drug trafficking organization Penetration process in other latitudes has three origins the Transnationalization of the organized crime phenomenon which impacts other territories The necessity to extend their outrage in often influence to other countries in order to facilitate The transit and delivery of drugs as a way to ensure income from drug trafficking and finally the complementary Characteristic of criminal organization in the region All thought this is a basically an extra regional phenomenon in the sense that productions and Consumptions are mostly non regional the trafficking of drugs carry several grave treats for Central American security securities as follows The high rates of murders and other violent crime that affect our territories The local consumption of drugs which facilitates or induce the causes of senseless crime the introduction of non narco forms of organized crime Public and private sectors corruption as well as money laundering The commitment of additional resources towards this struggle which should be devoted To economic and social investment that treat against democratic and institutional Stabilities and values The destruction of social cohesion and the productive sector of our nation The region has become an air Maritime and land corridor for the transit of drugs One of the principal routes used by organized crime for the trafficking of drugs from the south Destinated to the north of the continent Also, it is not worth worthy the increased consumption at an alarming pace Encourage often by the same drug traffickers who pay for their local services in kind with with illicit drugs From the qualitative perspective it has also been observed That Central American region is used for trafficking of cocaine and on a smaller skin of herring New trend drugs trafficking of cocaine are being developed and used such as semi-sumerable submarines which have many capabilities Because of their ability to manoeuvres without the difficulties of being detected by raiders or infrared lights Regarding the laws of human life the situation is very serious for example in 2010 and according to the United Nations program for development UN DP there were Over 18,000 homicides in Central America with which Represent an average average of 42 homicides per 100,000 person a rate similar on the superior Contemporary armed conflicts in other alarming aspects of our security Situation in the region is related juvenile violence related to gangs called Maras with links with counterparts in the US And then self interconnected regionally The phenomenon has become in recent years more complex and and diverse According to various resources the total number of gang members in Central America is estimated at 70,000 Gans are much more numerous in Honduras Guatemala and Salvador while the rest of Central American countries are not immune to this risk Such high levels of insecurity also increase the probability of potential loss of foreign and local investors Confidence which decrease decreases the possibility of regional development At the micro level Insecurity affects differently the various social social categories social labor and Man many managerial sector it limits product productive benefits and social capital on the other hand private sector investment in areas of security system and Private securities at the location of their companies increases the cost of productions and affects the competitiveness of the Central American products on the international markets add to this is The criminal practices of money laundering in Central America Originated outside of the region This source resources the sword economic policies and the economies themselves in additions the generate they generate Corruption and discourage investment from genuine sources with the potentials to invest one consequence of this situation is the Unstoppable migration of Central Americans to the north or to the other Central American countries which offers better better economic conditions and in pursuit of Peace and opportunities that are not found in their countries of origin Despite the negative impact of crime in Central America Economic activities is strong and the economy's are growing Propelled by economic integration and a dynamic intra region regional trade Intra regional trade among the five members countries of the so called Central American common market increased in 2010 by 10 percent and reach the six million dollars the gross domestic product grew in the region by 3.2 percent and add 125 billion dollars tourism is a gain again increasing With tourists returning to the region haven't become many of their purchases of Central American exports There are many North American companies that contribute to the regional progress Likewise, there are thousand of North American citizens who in some form or another Have social and cultural ties or shoes to retire in our region The increasingly transnational nature of organized crime in activities makes it Indispensable and necessary to strengthen and enhance cooperation in the area of security in our region In April of this year the Central American integration system through the Central American Security Commission Comprise of by ministry responsible of public security Defense and foreign affairs adopted a strategy that was ready revised an update and prior prior eyes This is a strategy seeks to contribute to the safeguarding of human security in the region and In achieving the objectives of the model of an framework framework work on the trade treaty on democracy security Involved in the design and implementation Our government officials responsible for the prevention and combatting of crimes representative from the group of friends researchers and specialists in the field senior representative from the economic political and financial experts experts with with international visions and of course representative from the civil society including the business sector The security strategy aims to establish general components and activities Need to strengthen the security of it people and their private property in Central America That allows our communities to achieve their human development goals The specific objectives consist of the following Integrate various efforts by the region on security matters With the objectives to harmonize and achieve the better results to facilitate coordination ex hands of Information and experiences between the various national actors and agency in the region to effectively combat regional criminal activities identify and Manage financial needs and resources as well as training Which are required by the institutions responsible for securities? Design and agree on a common position of intervention on the most important public safety use in the region This strategy is not the legal instrument Excuse me. This strategy is the legal instrument from a holistic perspective and to guide the coordinate the coordination actions on securities Undertaken by countries in the region within their respective jurisdictions The comprehensive and inclusive nature of the strategies is reflected in four components law enforcement prevention of violence Rehabilitation reintegration and prison management and institutional state in In June of this year the international conference in support of the Central American security strategy Was held along with the participation of more than 57 Delegations which include friendly countries Central American Highness level officials International organization by the World Bank and the Inter-American Bank and Kaby Kaby the European Union United Nations and the organization of the American States The private sectors and other Central American civil society sectors all members of Sica's consultive committee committee and the media the international conference aim to Consolidate a substantially Political commitment at the highest level between among the international community and Central America to the concept of democratic security under the principle of shared and differentiated responsibility and the additionality of financial resources on the regional base Basis to the one already is available at the national level while Establishing solid and sustainable cooperation to address the needs of more secure peaceful democratic and developed Central America The Sica member states are currently in the fast of transforming regional priorities into projects Regional projects with their respective inputs process actions benefits and outcomes The design of the projects Derived from the Central American security strategy considerations calls for a series of political and technical intervention that are already taking place during the first phase We are working at the technical level with delegations from the Central American countries to outline their priorities and establish the base and scope of each project and hence the initial phases of the projects Consolidations process will be completed in the second phase We will meet with the countries and multiple agencies based on the projects that we're choosing to be implemented It is expected That this fast of the design designing of the post conference regional projects Be completed in December this year for at least some of the 20 regional project to start at the beginning of 2012 final considerations Enclosing within our approach to security Challenges will not exhausted nor discourage our convictions We will address as much as we can the root causes and structural uses Through institutional economic and social development in accordance with our democratic security model The Central American security strategy represents a valuable contribution towards this the search for holistic solutions and exemplary regional coordination effort It is obvious that the resources and other means to face this Escourage are limited to the countries of the region. This is a phenomenon with an unusual characteristic Featuring actors who are integrate integrated in well-structured and disciplined criminal Organization with increasing level of specialization to influence the institutions of their citizens This transnational crime Organizations act in accordance with the present mindset of globalization With command of the most sophisticated technologies with little roots in terit in the territory But sophisticated in management of illicit financial flows With the evolution of this criminal phenomenon a global and well articulated approach is need in all the countries of the region and Henceforth requires the continuous support and commitment from the international community the United States of America through the direct and in agency Coordination effort of the State Department has assumed a leadership Position in the so-called group of friends of Central American security security strategy Without the leaderships exercised by the USA US the work done so far will not have spin and As effective as it is it has as Close as last Friday Secretary Clinton organized a meeting of the group of friends With the Central American Foreign Affairs Minister and high-level officials the seven of its character and most successful one The series of meeting help follow up Efforts and maintain the interest and commitment while the projects are being developed We encourage all of you distinguished participants to support such efforts from your specific trench You do it for self-interest or solidarity, but by all means Do it The future is for all of us to conquer it could be bright or it could be dark Depending in how we approach it We most understand that in this known nowadays small globe We share and neighbors Small parcel which in for to project to protect and enhance for the benefit of present and future generation Thank you very much. Thank you secretary general al-Iman I think that Leaves quite a bit of room for questions as to how all of this is going to function and how these negotiations will be translated into action among these countries that have very different cultures and very different Legal statutes and ways of handling handling crime At this time I'd like to introduce our discussants and in the interests of time I would ask you to take a look at the biographies that Are provided for you? We have a very distinguished panel today. We have deputy chief of mission from the Embassy of Mexico Mabel Gomez. Thank you for being with us Minister counselor from the Embassy of Columbia who has ample experience also in Columbia's defense minister and knows these issues in the South American sense Vicente at Jandia and Also today. We're honored to have with us the deputy assistant secretary for international narcotics and law enforcement affairs From the State Department Todd D. Robinson who give us a little dose of reality I think in terms of what the United States can do in in all of this Mabel, I would like to call on you first if you would And good afternoon to everybody Even though I have only five to seven minutes to speak I would like to start by Commending the CSIS and the Council of the Americas for organizing this event. I Think that this is a very timely event to keep the momentum up after the conference in Guatemala Momentum that we need not only Push forward the implementation of the projects that are going to be presented at the end of this year, but also to Underscore to the international community the importance of the situation in Central America and the need to work together all countries to support the region against national organized crime After having been said that I've been asked to talk about what has Mexico done in support of Central America What are we planning to assist with so I will give you a little bit of background Then I will focus on what we are putting on the table in terms of cooperation And at the end if I have enough time Steve, I will give some Highlights about what we think are key elements to ensure success of the strategy Well in terms of background Mexico has been a strong advocate. I would say since the early 90s of Adopting multilateral and regional approaches to combat drug trafficking and more broadly Transnational organized crime In this regard during the current administration since the very beginning President Calderon highlighted that strengthening international cooperation On the basis of the principle that has been mentioned all along today Principle of shared responsibility is one of the key Components of the key dimensions of the Mexico security strategy So in that respect as you all know Mexico has been cooperating Thoroughly with the United States and of course we have reached out to our friends in Central America To strengthen our cooperation against transnational organized crime in that respect since 2004 we Established an institutional mechanism with Central America Mexico and Central America on democratic security And in the context of that mechanism We have been Making joint efforts to design a security strategy that was in fact adopted in 2007 In 2008 when we got together Central America and Mexico We assess what has been done in terms of these regional strategy and we realized that there was a need for concrete actions So we had this idea of putting together a plan of action This plan of action was adopted at the end of 2008 With the idea of implementing it in a two-year term So it was a plan of action adopted for 2009 and 2010 In that context we have continued our dialogue with Central America in the context of this mechanism that I was talking about in the US I'm sorry in Mexico SICA On dialogue on democratic security in parallel You may know that the United States has also US SICA dialogue on democratic security and we have been trying to Align those two separate mechanisms in order to have a better coordination between the two regions North America and Central America So this is one of the ideas that we have put on the table recently and in fact in December 2010 when the United States Canada and Mexico got together in Wakefield, Canada we Mexico raised this issue in the context of the collateral ministerial meeting and Finally, we got the US Canada and Mexico to agree That it was important to engage with Central America We have been committed in this regard because we think that it's important to prevent dispression of efforts On one side North America on the other side Central America We also think that it's important to prevent duplication of efforts given the lack of resources We think that we have to Maximilize our resources. So that's why we are convinced that we have to prevent duplication of efforts And also we are convinced that it's important to increase coordination between the government and among the countries of each region in order to be more efficient and more effective in our actions Coordinated actions against So this leads me to underscore the active participation that Mexico has had in the context of the core group of group of friends in support of the Central American Security Strategy it was The invitation that we got to participate in these group of friends was Pretty consistent with what we have been doing Towards Central America and with Central America Central America The Central American countries are not only our neighbors. They are our partners in several endeavors So and we are also pretty aware that Combating transnational organized crime needs to be a joint effort a regional effort We will not be successful in Mexico without Join efforts coming from Central America. So we are together in this if we fail in this regard Not only a failure of Mexico. It will also be a failure of Central America and vice versa. So we have to be very keen and pretty aware of this and by nonium that is needed in the region Now in terms of what we are putting on the table in terms of assistance and cooperation towards Central America as Dr. Aleman has mentioned the Central American Security Strategy has been Designed with four main components Just to remind you of the component of combating crime The second one revolutions social insertion and prisons the third one prevention of violence and the fourth one institutional And under each of these four main components of the Central American strategy and on the basis of expertise best practices in Mexico My country is offering specific cooperation projects that are compatible at least with 15 of the 22 Central American profiles projects that Central America has identified Those projects that Mexico is offering focus on such specific priority areas that Mexico has identified such as combating post-national organized crime and these touches upon the cooperation needed at the border drug trafficking force illicit arms trade human trafficking institutional strengthening and The content of the projects offered by Mexico consists of four main cross-cutting cross-cutting things And it's important to have this in mind because all these projects are oriented are aimed to underscoring the importance of these four cross-cutting things and those are the importance of vetting mechanisms of adopting vetting mechanisms training information exchange and Lastly, strengthening of institutional So finally, I will Need time for your questions and I will be happy to answer those But I finally would like to underscore the importance of Mexico means to vetting vetting from our perspective is essential In order to put in place all cooperation actions. Why because we think that this is a Major component to ensure a successful strategy and to ensure that cooperation is really viable so in fact Mexico is Is willing to offer its own methodology that we have developed in Mexico facing the same challenges that Central America is facing and to provide with our Capacity in terms of developing common standards for the region and also a second element that we think that it's Indispensable in every endeavor to success what success is the need for Judicial reform this is a major element To ensure that institutional capacities are really Of course Central America has An enormous lack of resources but It will be in addition to the international cooperation Everybody would like to see coming in the region We think that it's important that Central America also provides for its own resources and Generates internally those resources of course the situation currently is really serious But it this is one component that it will be important to have in mind and it will be very important to Towards the ensuring the ownership of the strategy With this comment I close my comments and thank you very much My Bell No, this is very good. My Bell. I think you help crystallize some of this and bring the complexity of cooperation across borders Into focus the same thing you're on the other end of this But I just want to start by bringing This cocaine lab had a capacity of about eight tons of cocaine monthly, which is very large, but I mean it's it's large and One thing that was that was really interesting was that the cocaine found in a Honduras lab was Had higher levels of purity than the Colombian cocaine and so when we started to try to identify the reasons why this was the case results that because of tight legislation and that controls in Colombia Chemical precursors are very very controlled so it's very difficult to acquire them So drug traffickers are forced to use the chemical precursors and recycle them Reuse them five and six times. So the cocaine they produce at the end is not of very high quality and On the other hand in Honduras because they don't have the same controls Drug traffickers have more access to chemical precursors and this is the reason why cocaine in Honduras Is pure produced in duras is pure it has a higher level of purity than the one produced in Colombia and this is just one of the of the elements why we think that a regional perspective a regional approach is very important and In Colombia, we've been trying to deal with this regional approach since around seven years ago back in 2004 We knocked on southern command store And we asked them if they thought it would be a good idea to bring the defense and Security ministers of Central America and the Caribbean to meet and discuss what we can do what we could do to address drug trafficking in international organized and fortunately, they thought it was a good idea. So we went up and we carried on we celebrated the first Central America and the Caribbean meeting of Ministers of Defense and Security that was done in Bogotá and We followed up with a meeting in Guatemala in 2006 In those meetings we came up with this idea, Cerconari was the regional center for coordination of drug trafficking activities and Unfortunately that didn't progress But those were sort of the initial discussions we had of how to incorporate how to include a regional perspective in the fight against drugs Because this did not progress we still found the need to cooperate with other countries in the region and so we did this on a bilateral perspective So for the last three years, we've been working with Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Mexico Nicaragua and we've started to Implement an approach in which we jointly with Send the team who sits down and does a joint assessment with their with the local authorities be the police or the military forces and they decide What they need what it is they need what it is that the capabilities of Colombia can do for them and we have been very proactive in that area we have Trained already more than 10,000 police and military both outside of Colombia and inside Colombia from Mexico from Guatemala from Honduras and It's it's been it's it's had a very very important impact for example in Honduras. They were having a problem with kidnapping and They thought that the Colombian expertise in Kidnapping was useful. So we sent a team of gaulas and In over three months, they freed about 23 hostages they they were able to To catch 29 criminals and they I think the amount of the ransom that was That was asked for for those hostages was around 15 million dollars. So that was that was not paid It was good for Honduras one of the one of them as a matter of fact one of the Freed hostages was the cousin of president low So we've had some success in the Dominican Republic as well We've done some joint work in terms of establishing an air bridge cooperation program to deny the airspace to the drug traffickers and it has been successful as well Unfortunately we have only so many resources and And although we would want to have a higher capability We are as you know, we still have a problem in within Colombia. We have to do with our problem first. We're also But we're also trying to cooperate with with the region As I mentioned my well took most of my my talking points, but I just want to highlight some of hers One of the messages we have tried to Send continually is the importance of Society coming together to fight against drug trafficking Security problems and the security issue cannot be solved only by the police or the militia It has to have the concourse of the whole of the society and that has been really evident in Colombia Where not only the private sector has chipped in but the general population has seen it in its interest To really cooperate with the government with the rest of the state so Not only have we done some work at the bilateral level, but we've also understood the importance of Balancing the regional approach with the bilateral approach We believe that you cannot put all your eggs into the regional strategy We're not a lateral strategy strategy, but that you have to have a balance because If you have a very strong regional strategy, but the countries are weak the results will be Not very positive and the same is true of the Country if you have very strong countries that are very weak regional strategy So we have to balance and in that balance we believe that Supporting something of Elzett there's a very very big opening for the countries to work in terms of counterintelligence Making sure that the people who are working against drug traffickers really Have the have no Dark or secret interest that they are working against drug trafficking And so president Santos in the last conference in Guatemala He made an offer he offered to work with the with the regional strategy in three areas basically that's money laundering and asset seizure The other element is Intelligence as I mentioned he even went as far as to propose light vector center regional light detector center regional polygraph center and Another area he offered to work in was the criminal database share the criminal database and So we're working with Central America both in the region at the regional level and at the lateral level and Finally, I want to make one comment about the strategy the secret strategy right now and It's it's an element that that I mentioned as well, and that's the need to coordinate better coordinate Because of the situation Central America there's this sense of urgency that we have to achieve results fast and quick and We indeed have to achieve results, but we cannot do this at the expense of order and unorderly and planned strategy and so we have to be very careful not to just Put a lot of importance in the amount of resources we give So as as much as the need to have a really really thoughtful strategy to counter Thank you very much You sent a thing. Thank you very much Todd, you know, we're facing elections. We are in a special economic situation Congress is not particularly cooperative in a cooperative mood these days and Seems like just when the Central American countries are coming Together to be able to really work together in a coordinated way and have help from two very powerful neighbors is the United States about to pull the the plug on its participation or Does the United States have a Plan B in these special economic times The short answer is now we're not pulling the clock we're still in the fight But before I get there, I would just like to thank you and CSIS and the Council of Americas for putting this together I think this is very important. I was pleased when I came in to see a lot of old old friends particularly former ambassador to the US Francisco via gran from Guatemala Who's I think in the back somewhere? He was he is a great friend Not only of the United States, but I think of the other countries in the region And it was an amazing ambassador This is my 25th anniversary year in the Foreign Service and as I looked out in the in the audience I saw someone who was who is has been Important in my development as a career. He was my second DCM in Bogota, Colombia back in 1987 Phil McClain Also a great friend and hopefully continues to be a great friend. Thank you for coming out I'm particularly pleased to be sitting at the table with my colleagues from Mexico and In Guatemala, I I've spent almost the last 12 almost 12 years. I'm sorry, Colombia Colombia I've spent almost 12 years away from the United States. I've only come back this last July But I haven't been I have because of technology I have been able to see the news here and it really pained me to see comments by by people who who sort of Doubted the commitment of Mexico and Colombia In the fight against narcotics traffickers I think you only have to look at the news daily in Mexico and Colombia and count up the number of lives lost in both of those countries on a yearly basis to understand Just how committed they are to this to this fight And and how important it is not only to those countries, but to our country and to the region And I would be the first to applaud both of their actions and their input in the strategy and over the years in As we've as we've gone together to try to to stem this tide and there Their their input has been important For a lot of reasons but also because other countries have taken up the cause as well largely out to take following their lead And I think the Seca strategy is one manifestation of that, but we've also seen countries Other countries in the region step up Chile stepping up Panama stepping up Brazil both economically globally stepping up and is also Playing a greater role in the region so I think it's I think it's really important that the That the American audience realize that while they may have thought at one time. This was just our fight It's no longer just our fight. It hasn't been for many years. There are other countries out there with a great deal of expertise and and I think Dr. Aleman's Exposition on the on the strategy was was a great example of the contribution of all those other countries in in this In this fight the US role in particular is Really old school. We're not we're not doing anything new We're not doing anything that you haven't heard before we are doing more of it, and we're doing it probably more smartly we're looking at Basically reinforcing institutions. We're working with ministries of justice. We're working with Ministries of Interior. We're working with civil society to try to To bring all of those elements together The drug fight is not just Law enforcement, but if you don't have good education if you don't have jobs for people if you don't have a political Environment that allows Debate and discourse it's going to be very hard to to fight a group that Really doesn't care about any of those things. They only care about making money and and destroying lives We are we when I say we I'm using the royal we here because There are any number of US agencies that are deeply involved in the in in our in our part in fighting narcotics trafficking the Department of Justice Department of Homeland Security DEA ATF on DCP Department of Defense and I would say They are both they are involved on a on a global level on an interagency level here in Washington, but they're also Very much involved. We very much come together as a team At the micro level I'm my last my previous assignment was as deputy chief of mission at our embassy in Guatemala and Every embassy has a law enforcement working group and in that law enforcement working group all of those agencies sit around the table on a weekly basis those meetings are always chaired by the deputy chief of mission and You discuss on a weekly basis where you are on your projects the projects that you do by adult bilaterally With the with with the countries that you in you're in and the and the projects that might That might have a more regional approach So there is a huge effort to to try to do things more efficiently more and and and smarter and As was alluded to earlier the main reason we're doing that is because everybody knows Resources are scarce and they're not gonna. They're not it's not gonna get any better I'm gonna say one just one more thing and then I I think we should if we're gonna do this We're gonna go to questions When the secretary my boss came down to Guatemala She she made several different statements about the different things we were doing to help fight the Help fight narcotics trafficking I Think one of the most important statements she made Related to demand reduction and the the work the United States we in the United States have to do at home The simple fact is if there is demand for this product, it's gonna get to the United States and That's a huge problem that I think we need to we need to wrap our minds around We need to have a bigger debate on and and we need to resolve The my my understanding from statistics is that the that the demand is actually going down But I think if you go to Central America you go to South America and you try to Argue that point You're not gonna fall. You're not gonna get a sympathetic ear The fact is many people we are paying for that We are paying that price paying the price for the for this demand in the United States. I would argue today Other countries are paying a bigger price for the demand for that product and and we really need to Wrap our minds around that I'm gonna leave it there and we can go for questions. Thank you all very much Well, there you have it ladies and gentlemen our first question Diana negro Ponte the Brookings Institution two quick questions one for minister Gomez and the other for minister etching via Mobile vetting. Can you be elaborate a little bit is this vetting of police is this vetting of judges is a vetting of Prosecutors, please could you elaborate question for minister etching via you? Look Columbia has improved its relationship with Venezuela significantly over the last year What improvement in cooperation with Venezuela on drug trafficking has occurred for that question Diana? This question is too specific. I will be very concrete in responding We are talking about vetting all institutions all staff judges police even officials that are Thank you for the question no a cooperation with Venezuela on in terms of security issues including drug trafficking has improved over the last couple of months as You are well aware of the Venezuelan authorities have captured criminals that have been requested by the government they have been sent to the authorities so we expect that with meetings between the high level authorities of both countries which have been which have started to take place that cooperation over the next couple of months shouldn't prove but it definitely has Has shown an improvement over the last years David Microphone Thank You Stephen and congrats to CSIS in the council. We've got a great turnout today and all the speakers a quick question for Secretary General Aleman if you could give us a bit more detail on how the regional strategy is looking at the engagement with the private sector both Within the region and outside of the region Since we all know that there's been good economic growth over the past years both internally and with external partners We trade agreements and so on. How do you envision the business community? Buying in and becoming partners on PPPs in this effort. Thank you Thank you very much for the question It is extremely important to involve Private sector and to realize what we call the alliances in between public private and social sectors and the chief the presidents in Central America Has they disposed they Mandate it that we shall Create a great movement of citizens against crime organized Which it means that? We have to evolve the whole segment of societies and of course this is a duty for us to generate the conditions and to create these spaces to Establish the alliances between the public private and social Sectors Where can I see Where can I look the the alliance with the private sector well in prevention there is a big possibilities to account with the private sector's role to prevent you Violence home violence to prevent To the ring say insertion Etc. I I think this is a very interesting question and we could elaborate more respond and Finally, let me say that from the general secretary out of sick out Sica. We are Trying to approach the private sector in order to invite them and To involve more active active active in in this new crusade that we are doing and the private sector is Very willing to attend our invitation We have a question over here James Bosworth a little freelance writer I want to ask not just drug trafficking, but Illegal illicit human trafficking is clearly a problem in the region and Thousands of Central American migrants have been kidnapped in Mexico and there have been some recent incidents of massacres there of migrants What sort of programs are going on between Mexico and Sica for in a security of migrants and information sharing? And how can you help prevent this tragedy? Yes case of migrants We started regional policies It is not mature until now is not Developed so I cannot response From the national each national interest perspective in other words. I cannot assume any Response because I am in charge of the regional perspective. So I Invite our colleague from Mexico, perhaps she she can What I can tell you is that it's certainly a Major challenge for Mexico and for the region as a whole And we have been closely collaborating with the central government Have been affected With exchange of information addressing the needs of the families of the victims Trying to figure out Where are the Organizations coming from how do they identify the likely victims? So we are closely Talking Of course the the best protection for these people would be not having the reason to immigrant and and I think Certainly Mexico But the the Central Americans Central American countries have also looked very hard at programs social programs within their countries That that try to Create the conditions so that people don't have to leave or if they want They leave because they want to leave not because they have to leave United States is and I and I can Talk more intelligently if you consider this intelligent Talk more intelligently about What was going on in Guatemala, but we have been in in very close contact with the government of Guatemala working very closely with them on programs to Through a ID through the Peace Corps to try to to and and with the The private sector to try to create conditions so that you know, there are jobs for people when they graduate from school and There are schools that are worth going to to be graduated from so obviously that's the You want to you want to get as close to the problem as possible That's one of the the answers that we're that we're trying to offer My name is Tom O'Keefe from from the American Surgeon Consulting Group in San Francisco, California My question is directed to the secretary general Aleman As a US taxpayer, why should my government pay a cent for this initiative? When it includes countries like Guatemala that are notorious not only in Latin America, but in the world as having among the lowest tax Revenue the collection Records and if that wasn't worse enough There's also a massive tax evasion you're coming to my country to ask us to give you resources at a time when we don't even have enough money to Properly educate our own people or provide health care and you're asking us to give Money to a region that includes among the biggest wealthiest tax cheats in the world Thank you very much for that question. I Was expect expecting of course because we recognize that in some of Our countries in Central America, we have a low tax pressure talks low tax pressure In responding to your question And First of all we have to recognize that there exists a core responsibility Because we are in Central America. We don't we do not produce any type of cocaine We are not a high a big consumer Unfortunately, we we are at a space of transit Part of the logistic But unfortunately in that segment Where the cocaine is increasing the price because the price of cocaine in South America is One when it's in Central America is another when it gets to North America is another I mean there is a value add in the chain of Taxes From that perspective, I believe We in Central America, we have to increase the taxes we have to increase the the state Juridiction we have to increase the beauties of our citizen and Let me tell you there is a successful story of one of the countries in Central America recently that increase Establish a new tariff a new tax for security And I recognize that's a that's a cultural Process, but we are working on it in other words We are not with the arms like this, but we are working and they are most of the Leaders in Central America are asking for it Why the USA is Has to to share with us not only a Check With dollars, but with technology good practices, etc. Well, because this is my point of view this is part of of national security for us because We believe we are very close to the United States and we believe we have we are partners We are fighting against Narco traffic and crime organized. We are putting death people this every day Many kills Narco kills people in our region and those are Legitimate consideration that I can respond. Thank you. Todd. Do you want to make any comment on that? Just to say that the Secretary certainly has recognized the No tax collection issue. She mentioned it when she was she's mentioned it twice When she's gotten to Guatemala, I know she's mentioned it in El Salvador as well It's it's you know the the the central government know they have a problem Part of the part of the the issue is their ability to compel people to pay taxes But they're getting better at it. We're working on it. We know it's an issue and You know just a quick comment It's it's a it's a tough question and but it's a legitimate one and it's something that needs to be considered But one little factoid that's sort of related to that there's One country in Central America that has a gross domestic product of about five billion dollars a year Where it did I think in around around the 2008 time frame. I'm not gonna mention which one You can go look it up, but when you look at that kind of gross that kind of economic activity and compare that with the gross metropolitan product of say Municipality like Lebanon, Pennsylvania or Winston Salem, North Carolina, it's roughly equivalent And if you consider how many police cars and helicopters that those municipalities can buy with their different Budget constraints and different salaries that they have to pay and different things they need to do Even if There was better tax collection in some of these countries They don't really have the base if they were able to collect it efficiently be able to deal with some of the the problems that are occasioned by global Elisted enterprise that according to the United Nations net something like four hundred billion dollars a year So that's kind of what they're up against and I agree. I think it's a fair question How much are individual countries really contributing to this according to what they might be able to pay? And there's a lot to be done, but there is some reality in this is that even if they did But it as much into it as say we did it still wouldn't be enough. I think there was a question here Yeah, the political will to make some of these changes obviously they're they're these are countries with huge needs both socially and and security-wise and I'm wondering if you I know they're all diplomats on the podium. So analyzing the internal affairs of another country may not Be something that you're willing to do but both Mexico and Columbia have had to find the political will To to undertake these very expensive operations, and I wonder if you could assess where you think Central America is at Given they have this very low tax rate given they have very powerful wealthy people who as in the United States Do not want to pay higher taxes We have a great deal of difficulty finding the political will to pay our own bills Where do you think Central America is at and what role can or should the United States? Be playing in asking these countries given our own Economic difficulties in finding the political will to pay up for for these kinds of Expensive security programs when their social needs are so immensely difficult In Colombia and I think that for many years in Colombia situation was very similar We don't have a very high tax rate There was no support. There was no political support for or let's say the necessary authority in the state so when President Uribe came to power and things started to change and really The highest segments of the population started to see how investing in security was really a beneficial for them They were willing to pay more so I Think that from a from what I've heard the numbers. I think the number is about 90,000 members Private guards in Central America There is a lot of money invested in private security so I guess if there was some way in which the ordinary citizens saw the benefit in paying that Resources that are directed to private military companies or private security companies they directed them to The police the military the judicial sector maybe that could be one of the ways but I believe that until people Even though we knew even though the situation was dire even though the time when people started To be willing to put in an effort was when they were Not the lower segments of the population which are usually Once the suffer the most in violence and insecurity, but when the upper They weren't able to go to their country farms because there was Because when they saw that they were losing in their country Big farms, then they were willing to start The security of the country I Would I would also say I I completely agree with these Vicente but I you know I again from my experience in Guatemala the middle class is also Very cognizant of the problem and very much affected by the problem and And there were there were well, let me let me jump back and just say political will In my opinion from what I've seen comes in stages, so it's not like you know In a container that you pull out of the refrigerator and plop it on the table and there's my political will and and so as you saw as we saw in Colombia as The lower social order began Getting affected by the the drug trafficking problem. They started screaming in Colombia What we saw is as the middle class started getting affected they started looking for answers as well And one of the things we said was okay What what do you think? What do you think is going to? Turn the tide for you, and they said well, we don't trust the police So we started model police preset Program we had two in two large cities in Not cities Suburbs of Guatemala City via Nueva and Mexico that have completely turned around because they've gotten police units in their vetted police units as Mabel Mabel brought up They've been trained. They're on the ground. They're from the community They they live in the community and That has begun to turn the tide And and and people are starting to say hey, it's it's worth paying for this same thing in El Salvador we have a suburb outside of San Salvador Lord of Es where we've done the same thing and and It's it's having a great effect old-school stuff But it works and if you can if you can bring your projects directly down to where people are affected and And resource them well enough so that they begin to work and people will start paying I think for those I think we've got time for about one more question and then in the time remaining I'm going to ask you all to pull out your business cards and to Get to know each other and also get to know our guests and talk to them personally so gentlemen The US for years and this I I you mentioned countries like Colombia, but I don't see Bolivia here number one I think that's the genesis of the journey to come to you as in Europe Question number two is there was a lot of lessons learning the in the US after 9-11 you mentioned about basically new policies new procedures Are you looking for technologies that are going to automate your policies and procedures? Are you looking basically surveillance systems basically they're going to base have have an interoperability among the nations Maybe that's a question for you general The secretary Juan Alman, thank you very much for the question I Recognize this is a Very complex answer, but let me put in this perspective we Are committed to Phase confront the narco traffic the narco activities and other type of crime of crime organized we are not producers of Drugs We're not big consumers We are very small economies our budgets are Very very small too we are Considering like an aggression of the crime organized in our society because they are breaking our rules because They are attempting and against our rule of law And they are making extortion and they are corrupting our youth from that perspective We believe That the only the only way to confront this aggression is to be Very institutionalized very strong institutionalized very strong with our know with our judicial system to account with Scientific laboratories to prepare the evidences and the proof And of course to Facilitate the work to our police and In the perspective of the regional effort to coordinate the effort Because we in that way we maximize our resources So that's that's in my in this hand in the other hand We believe that If you control the laundry you are gaining very much because narco traffic and are Utilitaries I mean they they want to earn money because that's in their perspective in their logical is the objective is the goals so we have to work very very much in Detect and To make a surveillance in that area and finally in Our authorities recognize that The animal what we call the animal of narco traffic is a big And the only way to stop is to account with the alliance and the concourse of our friends Including naturally the United States, Mexico, Colombia and the other Alliance of Central America. There is no way Not to eradicate completely But at least to control the narco activity in Central America But I would just say I think it would be a big mistake for for my friends and colleagues in Central America not to to turn to blind eye to The The knock-on effects to narcotics trafficking in Central America Including increased usage in in Central American countries and the growing production of Heroin and the growth of poppy and the growth of Coca in in in the region It might not be in great numbers, but it is happening It's not and we know it's happening and and and I just I just don't want Anybody to walk away thinking it's not happening there as well If the drugs are passing through there some of them are staying there people are getting paid in kind They're getting paid in kind through drugs People are using the drugs Your the health systems are going to suffer from that in those countries and these are health systems that are already under strain because they they're having a hard time Taking care of the people that are that they already have so I Would just caution not being not to turn a blind eye to to a growing problem I want to thank our guests for being with us today Secretary General Aleman from Sica Mabel Gomez from the Embassy of Mexico Vicente Echandia from the Colombian Embassy and Todd Robinson from the United States State Department I think we've had a pretty good view of the negotiated actions that Sica is Trying to Get to move forward through the Central American countries It'll be interesting to see if there is a follow-up mechanism to see how effective These actions are the outreach to other countries such as Mexico and Colombia to help certainly a valuable contribution as is assistance on the part of the biggest demand Center the United States And also want to thank our participants and guests out in the audience today You've provided some valuable feedback, but I think that a Secretary-General Aleman can take back to the Sica process and certainly the the question of the taxes and tax-based is something that deserves to be Talked about at greater length It's certainly good to know that there are efforts like the Colombian one That occurred earlier in the last decade to begin to look at taxes and contributions that Citizens can make to take care of some of these problems and believe me it really hurts me to say this as a conservative so But we all have to pay our own way one way or the other Anyway, thank you so much for your contribution your patience And I hope you get a chance to meet these fine people