After a comprehensive and broad negotiation process, that started with the International Conference in Support of the Central America Security Strategy, held in Guatemala on June 22nd and 23rd, 2011, in which the 22 projects were presented and the International Community committed its technical and financial support, the Central American Security Commission approved formulation of the projects and a consultation process among countries and international cooperators was held for their immediate implementation.

The Central America Security Strategy and its 22 projects, represent a historic milestone for regional integration, as well as an important step to strengthen harmonization, alignment and appropriation of international cooperation towards Central America, in security related areas. The Strategy main components are as follows: Law Enforcement; Prevention; Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Prison Management; and Institutional Strengthening.

Projects were formulated by SICA Member States, with support from the Group of Friends, under the spirit of the following principles: co-responsibility, complementarity, resource additionality, effective investment and result-oriented management.

At the Meeting in Washington, the Group of Friends recognized the major technical, political and financial effort undergone by SICA Member States and its General Secretariat, for project formulation. They also recognized the Central American Governments’ commitment as a Region towards the adoption of better practices, in order to solve security problems affecting it.

At the same time, they highlighted the urgent need for short term results, in spite of the diversity of modalities to be used by cooperators to finance and execute the projects.

The Central American counterpart expressed its gratitude for the contributions and the various kinds of support offered by the countries and multilateral entities part of the Group of Friends and the International Organizations cooperating in the Strategy consolidation process, as well as for the respectful and harmonic manner in which negotiations were conducted.

SICA Member States recognize and thank Spain, Germany and the European Union for their support and solidarity, shown through resource allocation for the execution of the first projects. At the same time, they recognize the contributions that, in different ways, the following countries and International Organizations have or will allocate: Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Georgia, Israel, Italy, Korea, Mexico, the United States, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Inter American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank (WB), the Organization of American States (OAS), the International Organization for Migration (OIM), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB).

SICA Member States and the Group of Friends expressed their sympathy to the People and Government of the Republic of Honduras for the tragedy occurred at the Comayagua penitentiary farm on February 15th of 2012, expressing at the same time their concern over the critical situation of the regional penitentiary system and the unconditional support to the Central American Security Strategy implementation, aimed to strengthen the penitentiary system, as stated on its third component.

Participants thanked the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) for its hospitality, which decisively contributed to the achievement of the Meeting’s objectives stated on this joint communiqué. They also congratulated the SICA Pro Tempore Presidency held by the Government of Honduras, for the effective manner in which the meetings were conducted.

City of Washington D.C.
February 16th 2012.