Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Friday 16 June 2017
US, Central America discuss migrants, drugs and economic aid

By BEN FOX gives people a reason, a officials were expected countries. “What happens gains thanks to assistance
GISELA SALOMON reason to put down roots in to discuss such matters as in the Northern Triangle from the U.S., which dra-
Associated Press the land of their birth and whether the U.S. will ex- countries of El Salvador, matically increased sup-
MIAMI (AP) — U.S. and port for the three countries
Central American officials following a sharp increase
found common ground in the number of unac-
Thursday on the benefits of companied minors cross-
economic development ing the U.S. border in 2014.
as a way to fight violence “Irregular migration cre-
and drug trafficking and ates risks for everyone,”
reduce illegal immigration. Guatemalan President
At a conference on Cen- Jimmy Morales said. “No-
tral American security and body wants that.”
economic issues, officials in Honduran President Juan
the administration of Presi- Orlando Hernandez indi-
dent Donald Trump made rectly warned of the con-
the point repeatedly that sequences of ending sup-
strengthening the U.S. bor- port for the region.
der and reducing the flow “A convulsing Central
of migrants— key elements America, faced with a lack
of Trump’s agenda — de- of opportunities and with
pend on stabilizing the violence, is a tremendous
region, which has been risk for the United States,
engulfed in drug-fueled Mexico and the region,”
violence in recent years. he said.
Leaders of Honduras, El Sal- “On the contrary, a pros-
vador and Guatemala for perous and peaceful Cen-
the most part agreed. Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a conference on Prosperity and Security in Central tral America is America’s
Vice President Mike Pence America, Thursday, June 15, 2017, in Miami. best investment in sup-
noted the presence of (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, Pool) port of its people and, of
85,000 gang members to grow rather than fleeing tend the temporary legal Honduras and Guatemala course, a great investment
in those three countries, to the north,” Pence said. residency status of about directly affects the security for us.”
which make up the “North- “Good paying jobs give 200,000 migrants from Cen- and economic interests of Pence noted the Trump ad-
ern Triangle,” and said people an alternative to tral America who have the United States and oth- ministration has proposed
their activities “radiate out- a life of poverty, hopeless- been allowed to stay in the er countries in the region,” $460 million in assistance,
ward and reach the Unit- ness and crime.” United States without be- he said. to be used to strengthen
ed States” while most U.S.- His remarks came at the coming citizens for nearly Central American lead- law enforcement and de-
bound drugs flow through start of the two-day Con- 20 years. ers echoed the call for velop their economies. He
Central America. ference on Prosperity and Central American officials strengthening the econo- didn’t mention that the
Addressing those prob- Security in Central Ameri- have said their countries mies of the region and their amount is 30 percent less
lems, along with the flow ca, which also includes se- would not be able to ab- ability to fight drug traffick- than was approved last
of migrants north, requires nior officials from Mexico. sorb them. ing and the gangs that year by Congress under
building up the economies The public comments were Secretary of State Rex Tiller- have overwhelmed the President Barack Obama,
of the countries, he said. followed by a series of pri- son said the U.S. views it as countries. which has dismayed some
“A flourishing economy vate meetings at which practical to assist the three They said they have made experts on the region.q
US fighter jet deal, ship visit show military links to Qatar

By JON GAMBRELL ministration. having fought together tary’s Central Command, Qatar’s state-run news
Associated Press Meanwhile, the United side by side for many years whose forward operating agency described the
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- Nations agency oversee- now in an effort to eradi- base is at the vast al-Udeid presence as being part of
ates (AP) — A deal be- ing global air travel has cate terrorism and promote Air Base in Qatar. That base a “joint exercise” with the
tween the United States acknowledged receiv- a future of dignity and pros- serves an important role in Qatari navy. Urban later
and Qatar for F-15 fighter ing complaints from Qatar perity,” al-Attiyah said in a managing the fight against told The Associated Press
jets and a visit to Doha by about other nations cutting statement. the Islamic State group in that the U.S. Navy did “not
two American warships on off flying routes for its long- The U.S. military announced Iraq and Syria, as well as have a scheduled exercise
Thursday showed the vital haul state carrier, Qatar a similar $21.1 billion deal in war in Afghanistan. at this time.”
military links Washington Airways. Those cuts have November for 72 F-15QA The State Department of- “U.S. 5th Fleet ships conduct
maintains with a country seen global air travel dis- fighter jets for Qatar in the ficial, speaking on condi- similar port visits throughout
now in a dispute with sev- rupted and threatened the waning days of the Obama tion of anonymity to discuss the region as part of our
eral other Arab nations. airline’s revenues. administration. It wasn’t an internal matter publicly, normal operations,” Urban
Qatar remains the home In Washington, Qatari De- immediately clear if the said the sale will take years said.
of some 10,000 American fense Minister Khalid bin two deals were one in the to complete. The crisis between Qatar
troops at a major U.S. mili- Mohammed al-Attiyah met same. Qatari officials did Meanwhile, the USS Chi- and its Arab neighbors, all
tary base in the Mideast. So Wednesday with U.S. De- not immediately respond to nook, a coastal patrol ship, U.S. allies, has put America
far, the dispute between fense Secretary Jim Mattis questions Thursday, though and U.S. Coast Guard Cut- in a delicate situation. Mat-
Doha and nations led by and signed a deal for F-15 a State Department official ter Baranof both were in tis has described Qatar as
Saudi Arabia has yet to fighter jets it described as connected the two sales. Doha on Thursday, said “moving in the right direc-
shake that partnership, being worth $12 billion. The signing comes as Mat- Cmdr. Bill Urban of the U.S. tion,” while U.S. Secretary
though cracks are showing “Qatar and the United tis has offered his support to Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th of State Rex Tillerson said
in responses from President States have solidified their Qatar in the past. Mattis for- Fleet. He called the trip a called for Arab Gulf nations
Donald Trump and his ad- military cooperation by merly oversaw the U.S. mili- “routine port visit.” to remain united. q