Paraguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Julio César Arriola, asked this Wednesday for cooperation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations Organization (UN), António Guterres, to fight organized crime that is affecting the country.
ALSO READ:
Paraguay proposes to extend the Bolivian gas pipeline in its country
The request was made during a meeting between the two officials on the occasion of Arriola’s dismissal as permanent representative to the United Nations to take over as head of Paraguay’s foreign ministry.
In the statement, the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry noted that Arriola had requested the support of “the specialized bodies of the United Nations system for the national government’s actions in the fight against transnational organized crime.”
In addition, both addressed “the most important issues on the international agenda related to peace and security, development, cooperation, peacekeeping operations and post-pandemic economic recovery”.
At the end of the meeting, Paraguayan Foreign Minister Guterres hosted an official visit to his country on behalf of President Mario Abdo Benítez.
Last February, the Paraguayan government launched Operation “A Ultranza Py” with the aim of arresting and searching properties and companies dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Paraguayan President has criticized the presence of organized crime in different social strata, including governmental, parliamentary and police institutions.