Deputy Foreign Minister Meets With OAS General Secretary

Secretary General Insulza stressed especially the Central American Security Strategy, which seeks to integrate, harmonize and concretize national efforts and facilitate coordination, exchange of information, and experiences to more effectively combat regional criminal activities.

By Brittny Mejia
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met today with the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Honduras, Mireya Aguero Corrales, with whom he spoke about the recent positive developments in the Central American country, its priorities and the dynamics of international relations after nine months of being reinstated to the Organization.

At the meeting, held at OAS headquarters in Washington, DC, the Honduran Minister stressed that her country's return to inter-American system has been "harmonious and balanced," and thanked OAS efforts on this regard. She also explained her country’s priorities on issues such as integration, security, economic development, and the fight against organized crime.

The Secretary General recalled the important role that Honduras is currently playing in the organization and the leadership it will have as Chair of the Permanent Council between April and June, time during which the Sixth Summit of the Americas and the XLII OAS General Assembly will be held.

The head of the hemispheric organization highlighted the efforts made by the Central American countries on protecting citizen security, initiatives for which he reiterated OAS support. Secretary General Insulza stressed especially the Central American Security Strategy, which seeks to integrate, harmonize and concretize national efforts and facilitate coordination, exchange of information, and experiences to more effectively combat regional criminal activities.

Other issues discussed at the meeting included following up to the recommendations of the Truth Commission in Honduras, the agenda of the Sixth Summit of the Americas, to be held in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) in April, and the XLII OAS General Assembly of in June in Cochabamba (Bolivia), among others.At the end of the meeting, the head of the hemispheric organization proposed the creation of a work plan to support Honduras, as an effort to expand the assistance the OAS has provided on topics such as prevention and combat of drug trafficking, and on issues of security such as police training and the implementation of the judicial facilitators program, as well as training on human rights issues. (2/13/12)