19 countries unite in Dominican Republic against cartels and narcoterrorism at A3C summit
The Dominican Republic and the US headed the A3C Conference with 19 countries to coordinate action against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.
Hemispheric summit in Santo Domingo charts plan against organised crime
With the participation of 19 nations, the Dominican Republic hosted the Conference of the Coalition of the Americas Against the Cartels (A3C), a meeting dedicated to strengthening regional cooperation in the face of drug trafficking, narcoterrorism and transnational organised crime, according to hoy.com.do.
The opening ceremony was presided over by President Luis Abinader alongside US Ambassador Leah Francis Campos. Also participating were the commander of US Southern Command, General Francis L. Donovan of the Marine Corps, and the Ministers of Defence, Lieutenant General Carlos Antonio Fernández Onofre, and of Interior and Police, Faride Raful.
"Criminals should not find in our cooperation an opportunity to escape justice, but rather the certainty that justice will always reach them," President Abinader stated during the ceremony.
The conference was organised jointly by the Dominican Ministry of Defence and US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). Abinader stressed that "if crime organises itself internationally, the response of states cannot remain nationally fragmented" and added that "security protects development, but development also builds security".
Strategic plan and governance charter
The ministers and representatives of defence and security participated on 26 and 27 October in the elaboration of an operational strategic plan and a governance charter. Both documents will establish the priorities, coordination mechanisms and operational structure of the coalition.
Among the outlined objectives are the strengthening of intelligence sharing, the expansion of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and the development of combined operations aimed at dismantling criminal networks, protecting borders and critical infrastructure, and preserving collective security.
President Abinader defended the view that international cooperation must be sustained by mutual trust and respect for the sovereignty of each country. He urged participants to translate the agreements into "concrete commitments, defined responsibilities and verifiable results", and called for the establishment of evaluation mechanisms to measure progress achieved.
Solid institutions as the basis of security
Abinader also noted that security requires solid institutions, justice, education and economic opportunities so that young people can build a future away from violence and criminal networks.
The A3C conference, coordinated by the Dominican Republic and the United States, was described as "a strategic step towards a more coordinated hemispheric response", with the aim of integrating capabilities and reinforcing cooperation mechanisms between the participating nations. The principles governing the coalition include respect for the sovereignty and legal frameworks of each member country.
Source: Google News DO — Crime