Ambassador
Ambassador Event
AMBASSADOR WAYNE MEETS WITH MINISTER OF JUSTICE, SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ANIBAL FERNANDEZ
May 20, 2009
Ambassador Wayne started a round of meetings with Argentine government officials as he prepares to conclude his tenure in Argentina next month. The Ambassador met on May 20 with Minister of Justice, Security and Human Rights Aníbal Fernández and reviewed the existing important and permanent institutional cooperation work between Argentina and the United States to face the common threats of international crime including terrorism, drug trafficking and trafficking in persons.
“I reviewed with Minister Fernández the existing highly positive and growing institutional cooperation against international crime, terrorism and trafficking in persons. We agreed to sustain the important exchanges of information and training between U.S. and Argentine law enforcement agencies and other partners in the region to facilitate effective action against criminal organizations,” said Ambassador Wayne.
Examples of this permanent cooperation are the participation of Argentina law enforcement officials in an anti-TIP training conference held in March in Lima, Peru; the Federal Police’s agreement to host a regional information exchange system on drug trafficking and the continuing collaboration of the Border Guard, the Coast Guard and the Airport Police with regional law enforcement efforts.
“Our cooperation has grown significantly in the last years. I am pleased the cooperation between our countries, built upon solid institutional bases will remain beyond the persons involved,” said the Ambassador.
Ambassador Wayne also highlighted the excellent cooperation with the National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism (INADI) to promote protection of human rights and the cooperation of U.S. authorities to extradite back to Argentina for prosecution retired Argentine Army major Ernesto Barreiro in connection with human rights abuses during the military dictatorship regime.
Ambassador Wayne stated that in the upcoming months and years the United States will continue to create opportunities for Argentine and U.S. officials to exchange experiences and information and work together with other partners in the region to make more effective the fight against drug-trafficking, terrorism, trafficking-in-persons, organized crime and discrimination.
Ambassador Wayne and Minister Fernández also repudiated the Anti-Semitic attack against Israel anniversary celebration carried out last Saturday in downtown Buenos Aires. “We share the belief that this type of violence is unacceptable in a democracy”, said Ambassador Wayne and added: “It is important that both authorities and civil society continue to fight against all forms of discrimination.”
