“America is part of the great family of America and face common challenges such as terrorism, drug trafficking, humanitarian aid in disasters, protecting maritime rights and demand that all be together to meet these challenges,” said Panetta during brief remarks to reporters.
During the private meeting at the Government Palace also participated Peruvian Defense Minister Peter Cateriano, the U.S. ambassador in Lima, Rose Likins and the chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, Admiral José Cueto Aservi, among others.
The Pentagon official said the new strategy of your country “focuses on developing partnerships and alliances in the world and particularly in this region.”
“The U.S. effort is not focused on permanent bases but in working with countries to develop their skills, to provide security and prosperity to its own citizens,” he said Panetta.
For his part, said Cateriano Peru and the U.S. will continue to develop its cooperation agenda on issues like terrorism and drug trafficking, to face them together.
“The event also served to ratify values and principles of the United States and Peru in the field of democracy and human rights,” said Cateriano.
According Cateriano, Panetta’s visit, who told Humala greetings from U.S. President Barack Obama, has further strengthened the bilateral relations of the two countries.
As part of his agenda in Lima, Panetta will be awarded at the Army Headquarters and hold meetings with Cateriano and senior military commanders.
Panetta departs to Uruguay to attend the Tenth Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas, to be held in Punta del Este, where they discussed “a proposal to coordinate humanitarian assistance in case of natural disasters.”
EFE
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica
