UNIVERSALIZATION OF FRAMEWORK TREATY ON DEMOCRATIC

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 000169

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR MCAP ES CS PM GANGS
SUBJECT: UNIVERSALIZATION OF FRAMEWORK TREATY ON DEMOCRATIC
SECURITY IN CENTRAL AMERICA

REF: A. STATE 009539


B. SAN JOSE 001488

On January 23, Poloff met with Jose Francisco Gonzalez
Cortez, Security and Defense Officer of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, regarding the Framework Treaty on Democratic
Security in Central America. Gonzalez explained that he had
been one of the original drafters of the Framework Treaty,
and that he likewise believed in the importance of all the
Central American countries ratifying the Treaty. He stated
that because issues such as gangs, narco-trafficking,
corruption, and arms control are so important for the
stability of the region, it was essential for Costa Rica and
Panama to ratify the Treaty so they could assume greater
responsibility. Gonzalez further added that the drafters of
the treaty took into account that Costa Rica and Panama did
not have standing armies, but that ten years ago when the
presidents arrived to sign the document, they worried about
some of the provisions. He welcomed the United States'
renewed efforts to encourage Costa Rica and Panama to ratify
the document and participate more fully in regional security
efforts.
Barclay