Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa Cantellano said Tuesday that her country's security cooperation with the United States is focused on fighting organized crime and is not like Colombia's "Plan Colombia" cooperation with the United States.
The Mexican-U.S. cooperation is a joint program aimed at fighting organized crime, a common problem facing the two countries, Espinosa told the foreign press at the foreign ministry.
Combating organized crime is a priority of the current Mexican government headed by President Felipe Calderon, she said.
The cooperation is different to the Plan Colombia program, which Colombia uses to fight both drug trafficking and guerilla groups, said the foreign minister. The U.S. has been providing financial assistance to Colombia through the program.
Espinosa said the security discussions between the U.S. and Mexico were a commitment made by each nation. "We are trying to carry out actions, each one on its own territory," she said.
"It is a collaboration scheme that has equipment and officers that will come and boost our nation's capacity to tackle this crime effectively," she added.
Organized crime has grown more sophisticated in Mexico and criminals have extremely powerful weapons, she said. "This forces and demands the state to boost its technology and capacity," she added.
"The program is strictly within the competence of the federal government," Espinosa said.
Source: Xinhua
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