U.S. officials believe corruption is an endemic disease in the region. They emphasize that public servants must adhere to the rule of law.
The United States indicates that an important signal in the Northern Triangle is that public servants must act in accordance with the law, be consistent and give the population what it “deserves” between these aspects access to information and act in in accordance with the rule of law.
These were statements by two government officials of President Joe Biden, regarding what is happening in El Salvador and the region, where they stressed that what is happening in Central America affects the United States.
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“We have a shared future with Central America and what is good for Central America is good for the United States,” said Ricardo Zúñiga, special envoy of the State Department for the Northern Triangle, who was accompanied on a press conference by Juan González, special assistant to President Biden and senior director of the National Security Council for the Western Hemisphere.
Zúñiga stated that in El Salvador the International Commission Against Impunity in El Salvador (CICIES) is a tool that could be helping to strengthen the rule of law, an independent CICIES, he noted.
“It was disappointing for the United States to see the departure of MACCIH (in Honduras), and the International Commission against Impunity (in Guatemala), after a (Mission in Support of Corruption and Impunity), after a such an important effort by then-Vice President Biden and the U.S. government to support these structures, ”he noted.
In fact, the CICIES recommended this week to President Nayib Bukele a series of reforms to improve access to information and fight corruption.
Zúñiga stressed that El Salvador is important for the United States in all aspects, social, political, cultural, economic, where they are committed to working together with civil society and the private sector.
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“El Salvador is a very important country for the United States, President Biden and the Vice President (Kamala Harris) have dedicated their time and attention because they understand that the links between the two countries are social, economic, political and cultural. that what is happening in El Salvador is of paramount interest to the United States, “Zúñiga explained.
He adds that Washington is committed to partners in the country, whether in government or in civil society or the private sector, “always working with those who want to work with us, to foster conditions conducive to well-being in Central America,” it is equivalent to El Salvador as well “, indicates Zúñiga.
As for the relationship between countries, he stated that they are constantly talking to governments to respond to mutual interests and mainly strengthen democracy, democratic culture and pay attention to the needs of countries.
In the country, Zúñiga explained that they understand that President Nayib Bukele calls for countries to be treated differently, which will make the United States, in order to open doors to improve cooperation.
“I can assure you that it will be like this. It has been like this and it will be like this in the future. We understand that the conditions in each country are different and that there are different opportunities in each country that we can meet. So what we see are opportunities to open doors. to improve this cooperation and to care for the whole of society, including those who have any concerns about governance and to address these issues within a State to promote a rule of law and work in a respectful manner, but always in accordance with our principles “, he expressed.
Ricardo Zúñiga is a Honduran national and has worked in the Obama administration. Photo EDH / Archive
Corruption is endemic
Juan González stressed that corruption is an “endemic” evil for Central America and is one of the elements that motivates migration, “especially in countries where there is no economic opportunity,” he said.
He added that after seeing the departure of the CICIG in Guatemala and the MACCIH in Honduras, they saw the need to make an effort and move quickly against corruption using U.S. tools, including visa suspension, sanctioning individuals and freeze used goods in corruption, human rights violations and laundering in order to support drug trafficking.
He points out that in the Northern Triangle region it is important to help build capacity in institutions, where they note that there are prosecutors who are committed to fighting corruption, but are alone, “a way needs to be found to support prosecutors, to prosecutors who are committed against corruption, “Gonzalez said, but also that a fight be made in the direction of creating an environment for investment.
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Another aspect he exposes is that for other actors who are committed, be they civil society, private sector, prosecutors and also governments have the opportunity to exchange ideas for better practices against corruption.
“So this is something that I think we are going to move quickly in the first part and we are going to consult with our Congress, with the civil societies in the region, the American and regional private sectors, to make sure that we have this in a way that is collaborative and not something that is only imposed by the United States, ”Gonzalez said.
Ricardo Zúñiga points out that the border is “closed” and that they will comply with its laws to ensure that only people authorized to cross it enter the United States, but they will also be working in the Northern Triangle region and with Mexico, with its partners, “to establish conditions so that vulnerable people, people in danger, can come to the aid in their countries on the migration route and be able to have access to the necessary protection,” he explains, but above all by improving the conditions to prevent the flow of migrants.
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“We have a strategy of collaboration with these partners, not only Mexico, but also Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador to counter these dangerous trips and to try to improve conditions in the area. It is clear that issues of governance and efforts against the corruption will be central, as will our efforts to work together with civil society, the private sector and of course with governments to promote situations that promote the dignity, security and prosperity of Central Americans in their own countries, ”he said. highlighted.
He adds that when there is a critical situation in Central America, it affects the situation in the United States, so they will work with their partners in the region to create and promote conditions for improving the social situation, security and governance in all countries, with the intention of attracting investment, creating jobs and opportunities, where the place of a critical situation every year, are stable, prosperous and secure countries.