US President Obama talks drug war with Central American leaders
Baku, May 4 (AZERTAC). US President Barack Obama vowed Friday to work with Central America to improve the drug fight as he met with regional leaders, conceding that US addiction was partly fueling violence roiling their nations. Arriving in Costa Rica after visiting Mexico, Obama sought to turn the spotlight on trade ties but the drug war was at the center of his talks with the seven leaders of Central America, plus the Dominican Republic. "The important thing that I have tried to emphasize throughout is that this is a common problem, this is one where we will only solve it when we are working together. It has adverse effects in all our countries," he told a news conference alongside Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla. "But ... I think its` very important to make sure that our bilateral relationship and the United States relationship with the region as a whole is not solely defined by this problem, because when it is we`re missing all the opportunities that exist out there," he said. Obama had struck similar themes during his 24-hour trip in Mexico, highlighting the huge US-Mexican trade ties, vowing to push for immigration reform dear to Latinos and maintain the cooperation against drug cartels. With the cartels wreaking havoc in their nations and turning the region into a hub for US-bound cocaine, Central American leaders wanted to discuss ways to improve the battle against narco-trafficking. "The United States recognizes that we`ve got responsibilities, that much of the violence in the region is fueled by demand for illegal drugs, including in the United States," Obama said, adding that US demand was going down but that more progress was needed. The United States has provided $500 million in security aid to Central America since 2008, but the murder rate has soared to 40 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in the region, five times the world average. The US military has sent ships to the Pacific and Caribbean to intercept drugs, deployed 200 Marines in Guatemala and shared radar intelligence with Honduras. But top US generals warned that budget cuts could hamper the mission. Obama, however, said he was "not interested in militarizing the struggle against drug trafficking" and that part of the solution was through effective law enforcement and coordination. But the US leader said human and economic development must also be part of the strategy to combat drugs and gangs. "Now, even if a country is doing well, the scourge of drugs and drug trafficking will still be there, and there still needs to be a strong law enforcement component. But we can do better than we are currently doing," he said. Chinchilla, whose nation does not have an army, said organized crime must be fought through a more "comprehensive and diverse approach" and "not just the instruments of war." Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said: "It is clear that the fundamental issue of interest to all Central Americans is combating poverty. And this creates better conditions to combat drug trafficking."
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