TEGUCIGALPA – The governments of the United States and Honduras announced today the arrival in Tegucigalpa of a U.S. citizen security expert to support U.S. and Honduran cooperation to improve citizen security. Under the direction of U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Lisa Kubiske, Oliver P. Garza will assist the Honduran government with development and implementation of Honduras’s national security strategy to stem high levels of violence and impunity.

Ambassador Garza will serve as a senior-level technical expert for Honduran President Porfirio Lobo on citizen security, rule of law, and counter-narcotics issues. In coordination with the Embassy, he will also work with the Honduran government to identify opportunities to leverage security and development assistance from the U.S. government, the international donor community, and multilateral institutions to strengthen citizen safety in Honduras.

This technical assistance responds to President Lobo’s request for additional U.S. support and builds upon substantial U.S. cooperation with Honduras on citizen security. Through the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI), the United States assists Honduran law enforcement entities to disrupt criminal networks; builds investigative, prosecutorial and judicial capacity; and implements violence prevention programs for vulnerable communities. As part of the U.S. government’s broad security assistance to Honduras, the Department of State will also deploy a law enforcement expert who will assist the Government of Honduras in increasing its capacity to investigate and prosecute high-profile and complex criminal cases.

The governments of the United States and Honduras will continue our close partnership to support the aspirations of the Honduran people to live in a safe and prosperous nation.