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Russia to help Central American countries train drug police – FSKN chief

The Salvadoran foreign minister confirmed his government’s intention to open its embassy in Moscow

MEXICO CITY, February 23 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia will extend assistance to Central American countries in training personnel for struggle against drug smuggling and organized crime, the chief of the federal service for drug control FSKN, Viktor Ivanov, told Itar-Tass. Currently he is on a visit in El Salvador.

Negotiations with the secretary-general of the Central American Integration System, Juan Aleman, produced an agreement to the effect FSKN instructors will run courses for drug police from countries in the region, Ivanov said, adding that Russia’s proposal met with great interest from the CAIS.

Instruction is to be conducted at different times and in various countries of the region, Ivanov said. Each instruction course will end with an examination.

In the course of his visit to El Salvador Ivanov met with the country’s Foreign Minister Hugo Martines. At the meeting mutual interest was voiced in advancing cooperation between the two countries in various fields. As the FSKN chief said, a draft of a Russian-Salvadoran inter-government agreement was undergoing coordination. The agreement may be signed when Martines pays a visit to Moscow next summer.

As the Salvadoran Foreign Ministry has said, Martines “expressed gratitude for Russia’s interest in furnishing support for the countries of Central America in fighting organized crime.” It also said that ‘this reflects the dynamic development of relations between Russia and the Central American region.”

As follows from the Salvadoran foreign ministry statement, Martines and Ivanov pointed to the importance of measures to ensure public security on the basis of an integral approach envisaging preventive measures and the strengthening of the police apparatus.

The Salvadoran foreign minister confirmed his government’s intention to open its embassy in Moscow.

Ivanov, on a tour of Latin America, has already been to Mexico, and now he is to visit Nicaragua, Cuba and Panama, where he will be discussing ways of expanding cooperation in the struggle against drug smuggling.