CENTRAL AMERICAN SUMMIT ADOPTS DECLARATION ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001892 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDED PARA MARKING) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2016 TAGS: PREL PINS SNAR XK SUBJECT: CENTRAL AMERICAN SUMMIT ADOPTS DECLARATION ON REGIONAL SECURITY Classified By: Political Counselor Alexander Margulies. Reason: 1.4(d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: An Extraordinary System of Central American Integration (SICA) Summit on 10/3, adopted a series of potentially important measures to improve regional security, including: -- Promoting prompt ratification of the Central American Treaty on the Simplified Detention and Extradition Order; -- Agreement to improve security cooperation by creating an effective information sharing network between SICA members' immigration agencies and INTERPOL, putting into operation a Central American Information Systems Network, establishing an interconnected data base facilitating real-time communication of intelligence and information, placing police attaches at their respective Embassies in SICA counterpart capitals, and considering forming bi-national police forces to improve frontier security on the Guatemala-El Salvador model; -- Create a Regional Anti-Drug Training Center in Honduras; -- Working with judicial authorities to develop a Framework Convention of Central American Cooperation for the Protection of Witnesses, Experts and Others Involved in Criminal Proceedings; and -- Instructed the SICA Commission on Security to meet October 18-20 to develop an Action Plan to implement the Summit's decisions. The U.S. delegation obtained consensus agreement to recognize the USG's participation in the Regional Coordination Center Against Narcotrafficking, language which subsequently was excised at the insistence of a Guatemalan delegate during the post-meeting preparation of the final Declaration by the SICA Secretariat. The Ambassador raised this issue with Foreign SIPDIS Minister Milton Jimenez, and the Honduran Government has asked the SICA Secretariat to consult with its SICA counterparts to restore the agreed-to language. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The U.S. was represented at the Summit by INL DAS Christy McCampbell, INL Sergio Garcia, the Ambassador, Polcouns, Pol-Miloff and INL Contractor. ¶3. (U) Begin Text of Unofficial Translation of the SICA Summit Declaration (original faxed to WHA/CEN): DECLARATION ON SECURITY EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF COUNTRIES MEMBERS OF THE SYSTEM OF CENTRAL AMERICAN INTEGRATION (SICA) Bosques de Zambrano, Francisco Morazan, Honduras, October 3, 2006 The Heads of State and Government of countries members of the System of Central American Integration (SICA),meeting in Bosques de Zambrano, Francisco Morazan, Republic of Honduras, on October 3, 2006, with the firm purpose and will to define, support and adopt mechanisms that assure the execution of an integrated security strategy in the countries members of the System of Central American Integration, in conformity with the Tegucigalpa Protocol and in accordance with the Model of Democratic Security in Central America, with this objective: WE AGREE TO (1) Urge our congresses and national assemblies to promptly ratify the Central American Treaty Relative to the Simplified Order of Detention and Extradition (order of Central American detention),to assure the effective capture and punishment of criminals in Central America. (2) Update an effective communication network between the Central National Offices of the International Police (INTERPOL) and Migration Directorates of the SICA countries, with the purpose of providing alerts on evaders of justice in the region. (3) Proceed to the definitive execution of the Central American Network of Information Systems (RECSI) project in those countries that still have not put it into practice. (4) Strengthen the Communication and Police Intelligence Network, establishing an inter-connected data base with the purpose of exchanging information and intelligence in real-time, in furtherance of which we have instructed our countries' Ministers of Interior or Security to make this network operative as quickly as possible. (5) Take advantage in every Central American country of the experience and efforts accomplished by the bi-national forces of Guatemala and El Salvador, with the goal of preventing and fighting more effectively the level of crime in the respective border zones, in accordance with the police and security procedures, as well as the judicial norms of each SICA country. (6) Recognize the importance of the multi-disciplinary study "Gangs, an Urgent Regional Challenge that Demands Integrated Action," financed by the Swedish Agency of International Cooperation for Development (ASDI) and the Central American Bank of Economic Integration (BCIE). (7) Instruct the Ministries of Public Security, Interior or Justice and the Institutes of Childhood and Youth to elaborate a Regional Project of Technical Assistance for the treatment of minors at social risk or in conflict with the law, and request technical and financial support from UNESCO, UNICEF AND BCIE. (8) Recognize the Central American Observatory on Violence (OCAVI) as a mechanism for regional institutionalization, and support the exchange of information necessary to fulfill its assignment, in accordance with the possibilities of each State. (9) Instruct the Foreign Ministries so that they can proceed to create Police Attaches in the diplomatic representations of the countries members of the System of Central American Integration, and proceed with the respective appointments in accordance with the national juridical norms and possibilities of each State. (10) Instruct the corresponding authorities to formalize the proposal for the creation of the Regional Antidrug Training Center, in fulfillment of the Plan of Regional Action 2003-2008 of the Permanent Central American Commission (CCP) for the &Eradication of the Production, Traffic, Illicit Consumption and Use of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances,8 which will based in Honduras. (11) Invite the Judicial Branches, State Prosecutors and other judicial authorities of the SICA countries, jointly with the General Secretariat of the System of Central American Integration (SICA),to promote the Project of a Framework Agreement of Central American Cooperation for the Protection of Witnesses, Experts and others who take part in criminal proceedings, particularly in narcotics activities and organized crime, for the approval of the Ministers of Foreign Relations. (12) Support the process initiated by Honduras and Nicaragua for debt-forgiveness by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB),which will be subject to the recapitalization of the respective fund to sustain development financing efforts. (13) Instruct the Central American Commission of Security that to develop a Plan of Action of the priorities for Democratic Security in the framework of an Integrated Security Strategy in the region that comprehends the components of frontier and tourism security. (14) Instruct the Central American Commission of Security, within the framework of strategic actions, to continue advancing on the formulation on reasonable balance of the regional forces in the shortest term. (15) Manifest its support and endorsement for the creation of the Regional Center of Coordination Against Narcotrafficking in Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico (CERCONAR) as an operative and necessary initiative for regional security in Central America. (See NOTE in paragraph 4). (16) Continue reviewing the Treaty of Democratic Security in Central America, through the Commission Ad Hoc created for this purpose, with the intention of fortifying regional institutionality. (17) Promote the development and implementation of policies and actions directed to the prevention and fight against crime, creating a culture of citizen security, establishing a participation mechanism that includes the creation of local organizations and community policing. (18) Celebrate the signing of the Agreement between the Agency of the United States for International Development (USAID) and the General Secretariat of SICA (GS-SICA),that will contribute to the implementation of prevention programs for youth in social risk and ex-gang members. (19) Thank the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for its support to the Regional Implementation Unit of the &Central American Project for the Control of the Illicit Traffic of Small and Light Arms,8 that will be based in Nicaragua. (20) Send to the Central American Commission of Security, for its development, the document &Priorities in the Matter of Democratic Security in Central America,8 that is annexed to the present Declaration. (21) Instruct the General Secretariat of SICA to summon, before October 20, 2006, a meeting of the Central American Commission of Security, with the intention to follow-up the agreements adopted in this extraordinary meeting, and establish a calendar of meetings for itself and its sub-commissions. (22) Reinforce the capacity of the General Secretariat of SICA to follow-up the agreements and initiatives of the Central American Commission of Security, with the intention of assuring their effective and opportune fulfillment, as well as the agreements adopted by the meetings of Presidents and Ministers Council in the matter of regional security. (23) Recognize the interest demonstrated in this summit by Colombia, Mexico, the United States of America, Taiwan and the European Union, and invite them to continue their cooperation with the countries of SICA in the consolidation of a System of Security in Peace, Democracy, Freedom and Development. Express appreciation the cooperation that the European Union and its Member States are offering in this sphere and inviting them to continue these actions. (24) Express thanks for the visit of Mr. Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, President-Elect of Mexico, and his interest in the security problem in Meso-America; simultaneously, to augur a hopeful future for the democracy of our people, the strengthening of the Puebla PANAMA Plan (PPP) and the consolidation of the Meso-American Energy Integration program (PIEM). The Heads of State and Government of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, PANAMA and Dominican Republic, as well as invited countries to this Extraordinary Summit on Security, thank the Government and People of Honduras for their hospitality and kind attention. (signed) Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales President of the Republic of Honduras Oscar Berger Perdomo President of the Republic of Guatemala Jose Alfredo Gomez Urcuyo Vice President of the Republic of Nicaragua Luis Manuel Piantini Advisor of the Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic Elias Antonio Saca Gonzalez president of the Republic of El Salvador Martin Torrijos Espino President of the Republic of PANAMA Laura Chinchilla First Vice President of the Republic of Costa Rica Alfredo Martinez Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of Belize END TEXT. ¶4. (C) NOTE: The Ambassador intervened during the discussion on paragraph 15, noting that the United States participates in and funds CERCONAR, and suggesting that the listing at the close of this provision be revised to "... in Meso-America, the Caribbean and the United States of America." His proposal was approved by consensus and included in the Declaration being revised by SICA officials on a large computer screen visible to all delegations. According to a reliable GOH contact, during the final preparation of the document by the SICA technical staff, one Claudia Herrera, a Guatemalan delegate from that country's Ministry of Government, insisted that the reference to the United States be excised; a demand with which the SICA technical staff acquiesced. Our contact said that the Government of Honduras is objecting to the SICA Secretariat, pointing out the SICA technical staff does not/not have the authority to revise language agreed to by the SICA Plenum, and asking the Secretariat to initiate formal consultations with the other SICA members to amend the final declaration to restore the language agreed to by consensus. END NOTE. ¶5. (U) COMMENT: The atmosphere throughout the Summit was highly positive, with all delegations expressing their enthusiasm for regional cooperation on security matters. There were no/no major substantive differences during the discussion of the text. Costa Rica raised objections to specific provisions in the original draft that could entail funding commitments, obtaining in response language recognizing that countries would comply with these objectives "in accordance with their judicial norms and possibilities." The next step in the regional security cooperation process will be the SICA Commission on Security Meeting, tentatively set for October 18-20, which is tasked with developing an Action Plan to implement the Summit's decisions. To date, however, there is no/no agreement on where it will be held, although a Honduran Foreign Ministry contact told us El Salvador will be the most likely host. END COMMENT. FORD