DIAZ-BALART JOINS A CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, AND SOUTH AMERICA
The visit will focus on security assistance in the region, the Mérida Initiative, and strengthening economic ties
Washington, DC- Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) joins Chairwoman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and six other Members of Congress on a delegation trip to Colombia, Panama, Guatemala, and Mexico to examine the impact of U.S. security assistance in Central and South America. Diaz-Balart departed Washington yesterday and will return to Florida on Friday, March 25.
The delegation will begin in Bogota, Colombia and conclude in Mexico City, Mexico and plans to meet with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom, Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
“This trip comes at time when turmoil plagues large parts of the world, making it essential for us to know that our closest neighbors are secure and continue to fight against narcotics. While Colombia has proved that drug cartels can be defeated, Mexico now experiences the bloodshed and we must stand by our allies to ensure a peaceful outcome,” said Diaz-Balart. “My focus in particular will be on strengthening economic ties with our Colombian and Panamanian allies. Ratifying the Free Trade Agreement with these two countries is vital and mutually beneficial to our economies,creating hundreds of jobs here on American soil at no cost to taxpayers,” concluded Diaz-Balart.
Under the Mérida Initiative, the United States provided assistance, largely in the form of equipment and training. Funding for the Mérida Initiative has focused on:
• Providing Bell helicopters and surveillance aircraft to support interdiction and the rapid response of Mexican law enforcement agencies;
• Providing non-intrusive inspection equipment, ion scanners, and canine units for Mexican customs and the new Mexican federal police, as well as the military to interdict trafficked drugs, arms, cash, and persons;
• Providing technologies and secure communications to improve data collection and storage; and technical advice and training to strengthen the institutions of justice in order to improve vetting for the Mexican police force, to provide case management software to track investigations through the legal process, to support offices of citizen complaint and professional responsibility, and to promote the establishment of witness protection programs.