18 June 2003
Text: U.S. Calls for Reform of Central American Security Institutions
(State Dept. says region's militaries should cooperate more closely)
(2560)
Central American security institutions must be reformed and regional
governments must cooperate more closely to address 21st-century
threats, says Daniel Fisk, deputy assistant secretary of state in the
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
In June 18 remarks to the Center for Strategic and International
Studies, Fisk said that there is a growing consensus in Central
America that each state stands to benefit from increased collaboration
and cooperation. He pointed out that the region's commitment to
integration and liberalization is reflected in the negotiation of a
U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). This emerging
consensus in favor of integration and open markets, Fisk concluded,
has "given rise to a climate ripe for dramatic progress in reforming
and reconfiguring Central American security structures and
institutions."
Fisk emphasized that CAFTA will be a "powerful force for growth and
prosperity in the region," ultimately affording Central American
nations the opportunity to devote greater resources to development,
education, health care, and other pressing social needs. He said that
the Bush Administration's Millennium Challenge Account foreign-aid
program will complement the reforms ushered in with open markets --
and will support good governance.
"One of the hallmarks of good governance," Fisk said, "is the rational
allocation of national resources." He acknowledged that regional
military spending has decreased, but argued that "nevertheless, there
is no question that the Central American states would benefit from
even lower levels of spending and reform of security institutions,
including the military."
"The security structures and institutions of Central America were and
are largely, if not primarily, organized and equipped to fight
yesterday's wars and confront yesterday's challenges," Fisk said. He
added that with increased economic integration and the success of
peaceful dispute-resolution mechanisms, defending or deterring
invasion by a neighboring nation is no longer a logical primary
function for Central America's militaries. Instead, he explained,
"transnational criminal networks of terrorists, narcotics and arms
traffickers, and alien smugglers are the enemy today."
He said that in order to address these "truly stateless" enemies and
cope with the region's disproportionate number of natural disasters,
"Central American security institutions, including the region's
militaries and civilian decision-making structures, must be
transformed into more agile, potent, and well-trained professional
entities."
Central American states must also commit themselves to greater
cooperation and coordination in combating "those enemies who have
successfully exploited the gaps and failures of communication among
the region's security organizations," he stressed.
To advance such reforms, Fisk said regional leaders must continue to
build upon the existing trust among Central American governments and
security institutions. He said the adoption of a treaty of friendship
and non-aggression by the Central American democracies "would
formalize a regional security relationship that reinforces the
economic framework being pursued through the Central American common
market and CAFTA."
Improving security in Central America while lowering military spending
will require the region's security forces to work together, Fisk
predicted. He said that an agreement to restructure the region's
security institutions and coordinate their efforts to meet modern
challenges "would be the natural complement" to security institution
reforms.
Fisk cautioned, however, that regional leaders must also be mindful of
domestic political realities and ensure that dislocations ushered in
with these reforms do not contribute to instability. The United
States, he said, stands ready to assist Central American nations in
"any way practical" to restructure their forces, coordinate their
efforts, and reduce military spending.
Following is the text of Fisk's remarks, as prepared for delivery:
(begin text)
"Shifting Sights: Adapting Central American Security Structures to
21st Century Threats"
Remarks of Daniel W. Fisk
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Center for Strategic and International Studies
June 18, 2003
Introduction
Thank you for the kind introduction. I appreciate the opportunity to
offer some thoughts on an issue of significance to our relationship
with Central America and to the future of this important group of
neighbors.
Today, I would like to address the relationship between the process of
integration in Central America and the security framework and
structures in this region.
There is a growing consensus in Central America that each state stands
to gain from increasing collaboration and cooperation. The end of the
Cold War and its polarizing influences within and between Central
American nations, as well the general recognition of the wealth
creating power of open societies, market liberalization, and trade,
have given rise to a climate ripe for dramatic progress in reforming
and reconfiguring Central American security structures and
institutions.
The leaders of Central America have taken some initial, but bold steps
toward this end. Presidents Bolanos, Maduro, Flores, Pacheco, and
Portillo have each made important contributions to this process.
President Bush had the opportunity to congratulate the five Central
American Presidents on their progress towards an isthmus of peace and
prosperity when he met with them in Washington in April.
Their commitment to the integration process is reflected in the
negotiations towards a U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement.
CAFTA represents the common aspirations and goals of all our citizens.
It will allow the Central American democracies to put their economic
assets to more efficient use, attract more capital, and, ultimately,
devote greater resources to development, education, health care, and
other pressing social needs. The Bush Administration is committed to
bringing the CAFTA negotiations to fruition because we believe CAFTA
will be a powerful force for growth and prosperity in the region.
U.S. foreign assistance programs also are being retooled to complement
the forces for reform unleashed by free trade and the region's
democratic evolution. Under the Millennium Challenge Account, good
governance criteria are designed to support and encourage the efforts
of Central American leaders thus far and provide incentives for
continuing political and social reforms.
One of the hallmarks of good governance is the rational allocation of
national resources. As times have changed -- for the better -- we have
seen a welcomed decrease in military spending throughout the region.
Nevertheless, there is no question that the Central American states
would benefit from even lower levels of spending and from reform of
security institutions, including the military.
The security structures and institutions of Central America were and
are largely, if not primarily, organized and equipped to fight
yesterday's wars and confront yesterday's challenges. With increasing
economic integration and the recent success of peaceful mechanisms to
resolve disputes between states in the region, defending against or
deterring invasion by a neighboring state can no longer be rationally
supported as the raison d'être of Central America's militaries.
Further, there is no global struggle between superpowers for which the
region might serve as a battlefield. And stable representative
democracies do not require disproportionately large standing armies or
security forces to impose control on their populations.
There are clear and present dangers to national security, sovereignty
and public safety in Central America. Transnational criminal networks
of terrorists, narcotics and arms traffickers, and alien smugglers are
the enemy today. Their corrupting influence and destructive power
should not be underestimated. Today's enemies are truly stateless.
They respect no national sovereignty and, to them, a border is only
something to hide behind.
Central America also is a region disproportionately plagued by natural
disasters; security institutions could play an important role in
emergency preparedness and response.
To meet these challenges, Central American security institutions,
including the region's militaries and civilian decision-making
structures, must be transformed into more agile, potent, and
well-trained professional entities.
Central American states must also commit themselves to greater
cooperation and coordination to combat those enemies who have
successfully exploited the gaps and failures of communication among
the region's security organizations. To achieve these goals, we must
continue to build trust and mutual confidence between the region's
governments and their security institutions. We also must be mindful
of the political realities in each country and the fact that such
reforms entail dislocations that must not be allowed to contribute to
instability.
Security Integration to Date
We have a strong foundation to build upon. The Framework Treaty on
Democratic Security in Central America was signed December 15, 1995 in
San Pedro Sula by the Presidents of Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama. From that time, the Central American
Integration system -- known as "SICA" -- has promoted communication
and cooperation between militaries and law enforcement agencies in the
sub-region. We were pleased when Belize joined "SICA" in 2001.
This framework for cooperation has achieved several notable successes,
including the "Regional Coordination Mechanism of Mutual Assistance in
Disasters," the "Regional Program against Organized Crime," and the
"Central American Program of Integral Cooperation to Prevent and
Counteract Terrorism and Linked Activities."
With the Pochomil Declaration of March 30, 2001, the Presidents of El
Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua agreed to undertake important
confidence and security building measures and to establish a
reasonable balance of forces.
Another significant step occurred on February 19 of this year, when
the Central American foreign ministers ratified a model format for
providing each other with information about the composition,
armaments, material, and equipment of their military and police
forces. When this initiative is fully implemented, it will help dispel
distrust between neighbors and reinforce peace on the isthmus.
The Way Forward
These measures and agreements are solid and commendable achievements.
They represent a promise to future generations of Central Americans, a
promise of enduring peace and a reorientation of national priorities
to meet dire social needs. The confluence of the ongoing CAFTA
negotiations, the forthcoming MCA program, and the broadening of
constructive relations between states in the region constitute an
historic opportunity that must be seized.
To truly seize this opportunity, the Central American states should
explicitly declare what is evident to all: That there is no reasonable
justification for military action by one Central American democracy
against another. It is imperative that the Central American
democracies recognize that the most pressing national security threats
are not each other, but rather the non-state actors represented
largely by the criminal mafias.
Adoption of a treaty of friendship and non-aggression by the
democracies of Central America would formalize a regional security
relationship that reinforces the economic framework being pursued
through the Central American common market and CAFTA. Further, an
agreement to restructure the region's security institutions and
coordinate their efforts to meet today's national security challenges
would be the natural complement to such an undertaking.
Implementation of such agreements should entail redefining the roles
and missions of Central America's security entities, including armed
forces. Instead of wasting resources on obsolete conventional
formations, Central American democracies need to equip and deploy
forces capable of defending their country from terrorists, capable of
working with neighboring and allied forces to secure the region from
stateless enemies and transnational criminal networks, and capable of
working to ameliorate the dislocation and destruction caused by
natural disasters. These challenges can only be effectively addressed
by lighter, more mobile professional forces specifically equipped and
trained to perform these tasks and directed by knowledgeable civilian
leadership.
Presently, Central America is the repository of an excessive supply of
small arms and light weapons and any number of outmoded weapon systems
or weapons systems of little, if any, use against current threats. For
instance, man-portable air defense systems -- MANPADs -- also known as
surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) -- or jet fighter aircraft are
ineffective in combating the growing transnational criminal
organizations and mafias -- be they drug traffickers or alien
smugglers -- mafias whose growing presence threatens not only the
average Central American's personal security but also the legitimacy
of governmental and electoral processes and institutions.
Excessive quantities of small arms and light weapons, and other deadly
portable weapons such as MANPADs, could easily be used by the enemies
of democracy to devastating effect.
These armaments were intended to fight off an invasion, or support
one; to arm a faction within the state or wage a guerilla war or a
counter-insurgency. The chances of any of those scenarios becoming
reality are, as I mentioned earlier, not likely. I can confidently
tell you that the United States would not tolerate them. It is much
more likely that these arms might fall into the hands of terrorists or
other enemies. Therefore, while they exist, they represent a threat to
the peoples of Central America, as well as to the Western Hemisphere
as a whole.
The practical way to achieve more security while lowering military
spending and putting the dividends of peace to constructive purposes,
is for Central American leaders -- from the Presidents, their senior
Ministers, and deputies in the respective National Assemblies, to
opinion leaders -- to recognize that the threats they face are
transnational in nature and require that their security forces work
together, sharing the responsibilities of protecting the region.
Closer coordination among their air, land, and sea components is
necessary. Aside from restructuring and improving regional
cooperation, savings can be made by eliminating the waste, fraud, and
abuse in the region's military institutions. We know that there are
some units that exist only on paper. Scarce funds should be put to use
to address the national security threats for which they were
appropriated.
In the short term, some of these savings could be allocated to
appropriately equip and train new units. Some funds could ease the
transition to the civilian economy of those soldiers demobilized due
to reductions in force and those veterans who never made that
transition. In the longer term, savings could be invested to meet
national and human needs.
Conclusion
Central America has made great progress. Twenty years ago, thousands
of people were dying in the region's conflicts each year. Arms were
flooding in from all over the world. International enmity and internal
strife were the order of the day. Peace and democracy were fervently
sought after, but seemingly distant. Some even speculated that World
War III might begin on the isthmus.
Today, we are working toward a regional free trade agreement that
includes the United States. Throughout Central America, political
power flows from the ballot box, not the barrel of a gun. And Central
American countries are valuable partners not only in inter-American
efforts to combat threats to the region, but also specifically in the
global war on terrorism.
All of us need to recognize and adapt to change. We ought not hold on
to the nightmares of yesterday or spend our time and efforts trying to
manage risks that no longer exist. There are plenty of real and
immediate threats out there that demand our attention.
The United States is committed to helping our friends and neighbors.
We want our democratic partners in this hemisphere to enjoy peace and
prosperity for its own sake and because it is clearly in our best
interest that they do so. We are ready to be of assistance in any way
practical. But we also know that only by doing the difficult work
themselves of hammering out and implementing agreements, restructuring
forces, retraining and reequipping personnel, redeploying units,
coordinating efforts, eliminating corruption and dangerous stockpiles
of weapons, and lowering military spending, can the Central American
democracies secure the foundation of peace they have sacrificed so
much for -- and on that foundation build a better future for
succeeding generations.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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