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Closer Ties at Heart of Ministerial of the Americas
Monday, November 18, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

"If one thinks of the problems of the hemisphere -- of smuggling and narcotrafficking, hostage taking and the like -- the closer we are to cooperate with our navies, the better the security environment. ... Certainly events around the world before and after Sept. 11 (2001) suggest the advantages that accrue to all of us."

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
Closer maritime cooperation and the building of a hemispheric peacekeeping capability are two items Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wants to discuss at the Defense Ministerial of the Americas here Nov. 19.

The secretary gave reporters traveling with him a rundown of what he wants to accomplish at the ministerial. He told reporters he cannot stay for the full meeting. He will leave Tuesday for the NATO Summit in Prague, Czech Republic.

Still, the 5,000-mile journey to Santiago shows the importance U.S. leaders place on the ministerial. "Needless to say, I would not be going all this distance if I did not think this was extremely important," Rumsfeld said.

After Rumsfeld leaves, Peter Rodman, assistant defense secretary for international security affairs, will stay and represent the United States.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

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