Post date: Sep 20, 2012 11:34:39 PM
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (SEPTEMBER 20, 2012) (REUTERS) - At the first International Conference against Transnational Organized Crime, representatives from 20 countries agreed on Thursday (September 20) to create an Inter-American Commission to co-ordinate regional crime-fighting efforts in the western hemisphere.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon inaugurates the first International Conference against Transnational Organized Crime.
Outgoing Mexican President Felipe Calderon, known for his controversial crackdown on powerful drug cartels, lauded the project.
"The Centre will be a valuable tool to carry out international actions against organised crime, especially to break up their logistical and financial operation structures. The co-ordination centre for the Americas will facilitate operations in the matter and will make sure they are reliable and efficient. They will also allow the exchange of useful information throughout every attorney general office among nations," he said as he inaugurated the Mexico City conference sponsored by the Organization of American States.
Governments have long complained that their efforts to quash organized crime within their borders are undermined by the abilities of the criminals to regroup and take cover in other countries.
Calderon, who proposed the regional body in March of this year, said that the body is critical to increasing coordination among agencies and institutions responsible for carrying out anti-crime tasks.
"Transnational crime should be tackled transnationally. That is why I praise that with agreements reached here a new phase of regional cooperation will begin. Today, countries in America add up capabilities to build a much safer region. In the future our nations should persevere to combat organised crime through a profound international collaboration," he said.
Calderon will leave office on December 1 but his goal of regional cooperation in crime-fighting is echoed by president-elect Enrique Pena Nieto.
Just this week, Pena Nieto undertook his first major trip since the country's electoral tribunal confirmed him as president and he's been pledging to his regional neighbours that he would pave the way for deeper cooperation in the fight against drug gangs and organised crime.
The words have been well-received in Central America, where Mexican cartels have gained ground, overwhelming local police forces hampered by poverty and corruption.
Guatemala's Attorney General Claudia Paz y Paz praised the plan.
"We are convinced the approval of the hemispheric scheme means the start of a new era in international collaboration. We know that the structures we have here, communications and logistical co-ordination and joint operations will be strengthened and they will be able to grow exponentially through this mechanism," said Paz y Paz.
The centre will allow police, prosecutors, and intelligence agents to exchange information in a timely fashion to combat organized crime.