This content was published on April 18, 2022 – 9:29 p.m. April 18, 2022 – 9:29 p.m
Panama City, 18 April (EFE).- The United States Secretary of National Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, arrived in Panama on Monday to take part in a continental meeting on migration and security, which is also attended by the Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs will be the United States, Anthony Blinken and ministers from twenty countries.
Mayorkas was received by the Panamanian Minister of Public Safety, Juan Pino; the head of the National Migration Service (SNM), Samira Gozaine, and the chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in Panama, Stewart Tuttle.
The ministerial meeting, which the US State Department says will be organized jointly by Panama and the United States, will bring together foreign ministers, security ministers and senior officials from twenty countries on the continent this Tuesday and Wednesday and will focus on the issue of migration.
The US delegation will be led by Blinken, who is expected to arrive in Panama on Tuesday, and Maryorkas, and will include Undersecretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols.
The US mission will encourage “Washington’s commitment” to “collaboratively address the challenges of irregular migration” in the region and hopes to make progress on initiatives to address its root causes and find solutions on the “protection of refugees and asylum seekers”, according to official information.
“At this ministerial meeting, we want to focus specifically on stabilization efforts in communities that are hosting migrants and refugees,” Nichols said.
For this reason, the meeting will discuss the “use of investments from multilateral development banks and international organizations to support communities in need”.
“We and our partners in America understand that the best way to address irregular migration is to create opportunity and give people a reason to build their lives at home,” the undersecretary added.
The increasing entry of irregular migrants into Panama through the dangerous Darién Jungle is cementing Central America, a region historically marked by the emigration of its citizens, as a route for thousands of people from all over the world seeking the “American Dream” in the US.
Given this situation and the fact that migratory flows are “always changing”, there is a need for this matter to be addressed from a regional perspective, according to the Panamanian government.
The Continental Gathering is also a preparatory event for the Summit of the Americas to be held in Los Angeles, USA, later this year.
According to official information, Blinken will meet with the country’s President Laurentino Cortizo during his stay in Panama; Panamanian Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes; Representatives of multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and non-governmental organizations.
With all of them, he will address issues of economic recovery, migration, refugee protection, fighting corruption and supporting civil society.
During his visit – between Tuesday and Wednesday – Blinken will also visit the Panama Canal and hold a roundtable with civil society leaders in the region to discuss transparency and the fight against corruption. EFE
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