The U.S. undersecretary for Hemispherical Affairs admitted Thursday that his country’s high drug consumption makes it co-responsibility in matters of security, especially for the drug trafficking that affects Latin America.
Arturo Valenzuela, speaking to reporters in the National Palace after a meeting with president Leonel Fernandez to discuss Central America and Caribbean topics, including security, also stated Washington’s willingness to continue working with the Dominican government and the entire region in the fight against drug trafficking. “The issue of security concerns us all. We also spoke about it with the President a high-priority topic for the United States; the Central American and Mexican situation, but also as to how all this drug trafficking and organized crime ricochets and affects all our societies.”
He said people everywhere are worried about citizen security as the top challenge, and the United States and president Barack Obama and secretary Hillary Clinton are committed to continue working on these issues, with bilateral-regional cooperation agreed with the region’s countries.
Valenzuela also praised Fernandez’s intervention in regional affairs, as part of what he said is a very important era for consolidating its democracy. “We value highly what the Dominican Republic has done and the President’s personal effort.”
In the meeting also participated the United States Ambassador Raul Yzaguirre, Commercial attaché Christopher Lambert, among others.
