Vice President and US Ambassador Sign Agreement on Expanded Cooperation

(Panama-Guide) - La Estrella - The Governments of the Republic of Panama and the United States signed cooperation agreements that add more than $10 million dollars to programs that strengthen security in our country. The agreements were signed by Vice President and Foreign Minister, Juan Carlos Varela, and the new United States Ambassador in Panama, Phyllis M. Powers. "These agreements will allow us to count on non-reimbursable cooperation resources to support training activities, technical assistance and equipment in the areas of reforms to the security sector, combating transnational crime and strengthening the rule of law," said Chancellor Varela. The Panamanian minister said cooperation efforts will focus on maritime and border security, and the equipment and training for those tasks, and in the Project to Improve Training in the Police Academy, developed under the framework of the Central American Regional Security Initiative.

For her part, Ambassador Powers added "the United States shares the concerns of all Panamanians about crime, gangs, violence and the corrupting influence of drug trafficking." These agreements strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fight against crime and drug trafficking through training, logistical support and information exchange between both countries. Panama and the United States will also develop a Crime Prevention Program aimed at vulnerable youth which was also funded through the this program.

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Original Source: panama-guide.com
Date Retrieved: September 21, 2010.