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Rumsfeld Proposes Initiatives to Strengthen Hemisphere's Capabilities
Tuesday, November 19, 2002
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

"Elected governments have the responsibility to exercise sovereign authority, conferred at the ballot box, throughout their national territory. We are all benefited by helping democratic nations across this hemisphere exercise effective sovereignty over their territories."

SANTIAGO, Chile -- AFIS
All democracies benefit from security, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld offered two initiatives to foster security and draw Western Hemisphere nations closer together.

Rumsfeld offered the initiatives today during a speech at the Defense Ministerial of the Americas here. He asked the delegates to consider ways to expand national capabilities into regional ones. Maritime and naval regional cooperation is aimed at strengthening operational and planning capabilities, upgrading national command and control and improving regional information sharing.

"This could potentially include cooperation among coast guards, customs and police forces," Rumsfeld said.

The second initiative is aimed at improving the hemisphere's peacekeeping capabilities. Rumsfeld noted that many Western Hemisphere countries already are leaders in peacekeeping.
(More: DoD News Source)
2002 © The United States Department of Defense.

Related Story:
* Defense Ministerial of the Americas
United States Department of Defense
Tuesday, November 19, 2002

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