December 23, 2008
Remarks by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Merida Initiative Monies Released; Letter of Agreement Signed
Merida Initiative Cooperation Gathers Momentum
Fact Sheets
Mérida Initiative -Merida Initiative High Level Consultation Group
The Merida Initiative - Proactive Border Security
Links
Merida Initative - Department of State website:
http://www.state.gov/p/inl/merida/index.htm
June 30, 2008
Message from Ambassador
Garza on the signing of the Merida Initiative by President
Bush
"The Merida Initiative represents a new era of cooperation
which will amplify and strengthen existing law enforcement
cooperation, intelligence sharing, and training programs.
It will also provide new equipment for Mexican forces to use
to better confront the common threat of drug trafficking and
other transnational organized crime."
June 27, 2008
Congress Approves Merida Initiative
Garza: “The United States recognizes our shared responsibility for
the problem of drug trafficking, and our obligation to stand
shoulder to shoulder with Mexico in this fight. With the additional
resources provided by the Merida Initiative, Mexico and the
United States will build on our already successful security
cooperation and shared efforts against narcotrafficking. I
applaud Congress’s passage of this important program and look
forward to working with the government of Mexico to implement
it.”
June 6, 2008
State’s Negroponte Targets Illegal Drugs on Central American Trip – Mérida Initiative would help Mexico, Central America combat trafficking
Negroponte told reporters in Guatemala that these countries
will play an active part in the anti-drug plan called the
Mérida Initiative. The plan aims to help Mexico and Central
America combat narcotrafficking, transnational youth crime
and terrorism. With full funding, said Negroponte, the Mérida
Initiative will provide “substantial support over several
years to train and equip Mexican and Central American law
enforcement. We are committed to this initiative because no
country in the hemisphere can be safe from organized crime,
gangs, and narco-terrorism unless we are all safe.”
May 22, 2008
Merida Initiative
Continues to Move Forward
Garza: “Today the U.S. Senate passed a supplemental budget
bill that includes funding of the Merida Initiative. This
is another step forward for this important program to strengthen
cooperation between the United States and Mexico to fight
the drug trade and organized crime that impact both our nations.
However, it is still not final action.”
May 16, 2008
Important Steps Forward for the Merida Initiative
Garza: “The U.S. has a responsibility to bolster Mexico’s
efforts to strike hard at the drug cartels, just as we persevere
in our fight against drug traffickers and drug addiction in
the United States. I continue to urge the House and Senate
to move forward in approving it.”
May 12, 2008
U.S. Stands with Mexico in Fight Against Organized Crime
Statement by U.S. Dept. of State Spokesman Sean McCormack:
"We urge the U.S. Congress to fully fund the President’s
Merida Initiative, a program designed to help Mexico and Central
American countries fight organized crime and drug- trafficking."
May 9, 2008
Merida
Initiative Takes Aim at Transnational Crime
Under the Merida Initiative, the United States, Mexico and
several Central American countries are confronting the shared
threat of transnational organized crime. Thomas A. Shannon,
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs,
says the United States has a strategic interest in reinforcing
this partnership to check illicit activity in the region.
April 8, 2008
State
Department Fact Sheet
The Merida Initiative demonstrates the United States’ commitment
to partner with governments in Mexico and Central America
to confront criminal organizations whose actions plague the
region and spill over into the United States.
February 7, 2008
U.S.
Obligations under the Merida Initiative; Statement by
Thomas A. Shannon, Assistant Secretary of State for Western
Hemisphere Affairs, Before the House Foreign Relations Subcommittee
on the Western Hemisphere
Merida
Initiative Seeks To Thwart Western Hemisphere Crime
November 16, 2007
Foreign
Press Center Briefing; Thomas A. Shannon, Assistant Secretary
of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs; Foreign Press Center
Briefing; Washington, DC
November 15, 2007
Testimony
Before the Senate Committee On Foreign Relations; Thomas
A. Shannon, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs;
Washington, DC
Statement
for Hearing to Evaluate Anti-Drug Package for Mexico and Central
America; U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Republican
leader Richard Lugar
November 14, 2007
Testimony
Before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Thomas
A. Shannon, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs;
Washington, DC
Opening
Statement at Hearing On $1.4 Billion Security Assistance Package
For Mexico And Central America; Eliot L. Engel, Chairman
of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
November 1, 2007
Garza:
Drug seizure, with an estimated value of over US$400 million,
also highlights the need for U.S. Congressional action
“Along with my colleagues in the U.S. law enforcement community,
I commend the Calderon administration, including PGR, SSP,
SEDENA, Marina, and Customs, who have demonstrated their steadfast
dedication and courage in the face of daily assaults by drug
lords. Our persistent bilateral cooperation is the key to
many recent victories, and will lead to further successes
against organized crime.” (complete
text)
October 30, 2007
Press remarks made by Deputy Secretary John D. Negroponte
while in Mexico:
October 26, 2007
New U.S.-Mexico Plan Seen Improving Border Security
Statements by James Jones, U.S. ambassador to Mexico from
1993 to 1997, and Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, senior associate
with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in
Washington.
October 22, 2007
Joint
Statement on the Merida Initiative: A New Paradigm for Security
Cooperation
Fact Sheet: The Merida Initiative: United States Mexico
Central America Security Cooperation
The
Mexico/Central America Security Cooperation Package; Thomas
Shannon, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs;
On-The-Record Briefing Via Conference Call; Washington, DC
Mexico's
Security Efforts Deserve Strong Support
Garza: “President Bush has taken the first step by requesting
funding directed specifically towards security cooperation
with Mexico and Central America. The U.S. Congress will now
need to act on this crucial security proposal. We have the
opportunity and the responsibility to stand together with
our neighbors and demonstrate our strong commitment to break
the backs of the drug cartels, disrupt the flow of narcotics
and related cash that endangers our shared borders, and free
our respective societies from drug-related violence.”
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