Approval of Central American-U.S. Joint Declaration Action Plan

The United States, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama have reached consensus on the action plan of the Central American-United States of America Joint Declaration (CONCAUSA) as called for in the expanded and renewed CONCAUSA Declaration signed on June 7, 2001, in Washington by Secretary of State Colin Powell and his Central American counterparts. In addition, the United States and countries of Central America issued the attached Joint Communique highlighting the achievements made within the CONCAUSA framework and outlining goals for future cooperation.

On December 10, 1994, the United States and Central American Heads of Government signed the original CONCAUSA on the margins of the Miami Summit of the Americas. At that time, CONCAUSA covered cooperation in four major areas under an action plan: conservation of biodiversity, sound use of energy, environmental legislation, and sustainable economic development. The renewed and expanded CONCAUSA Declaration signed in June 2001 added climate change and disaster preparedness as two new areas of cooperation.

CONCAUSA demonstrates United States support to the Central American region, strengthens United States/Central American relations, and supports the sustainable development of Central America through increased competitiveness in global markets and improved environmental management. It also reiterates the Administration's support for Central America's economic integration, trade liberalization, and other economic, social, and environmental objectives. CONCAUSA has been a model framework for achieving joint United States-Central American economic, environmental and social development goals in the region.

Joint Communique on CONCAUSA between the Central American Countries and the United States of America
The Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and the United States of America, and the Prime Minister of Belize, met at San Salvador on March 24, 2002 to announce the continuation and expansion of the Joint Central America-United States Declaration (CONCAUSA) signed on December 10, 1994, at Miami, as well as implementation of the cooperative measures under this initiative, set forth in the Joint Declaration signed by the Central American countries and the United States of America at Washington, D.C. on June 7, 2001.

The leaders stressed the achievements and progress made by virtue of this valuable instrument of cooperation between the two parties, with the contribution of the United States, which became the first extra-regional member of the Central American Alliance for Sustainable Development (ALIDES), sharing its principles and goals, and accepting its role in supporting the application of this strategy.

The leaders agreed that the collaboration made possible by CONCAUSA reflects their commitment to strengthening democracy and to the Central American integration process, to promote sustainable development in the region and effective incorporation of the region into a world that is daily more globalized, with a view to achieving tangible benefits for the people of Central America.

This initiative, based on shared and prioritized concerns, has incorporated new elements related to the areas of disaster prevention and mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

In order to pursue CONCAUSA goals and to carry out the various activities envisioned within the framework of this initiative, a Plan of Action including broad areas of cooperation has been established, aimed at achieving the following goals:

To strengthen Central America's ability to prevent and manage disasters;
To increase regional energy efficiency and broaden the availability of electrical services to rural populations;
To strengthen the Central American countries' capacity to adapt to climate change and to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions;
To increase the region's competitiveness in world markets by accelerating trade integration and making labor markets more efficient, using a comprehensive approach;
To achieve greater harmonization of environmental legislation, enforcement and compliance, at high levels of protection, including international and regional conventions and voluntary environmental management systems; and
To attain adequate levels of biodiversity conservation by consolidating the land and maritime components of the Middle American Biological Corridor, and by strengthening public and private biodiversity management.

Therefore, consistent with their political will and the Joint Declaration of June 7, 2001, the leaders adopted the CONCAUSA Plan of Action, set forth in detail in the annexes to this Communique.

In order to provide effective continuity in the implementation of the Action Plan, the Presidents and Prime Minister agree that the parties and/or their regional representatives should undertake periodic reviews of the Plan to assess progress and recommend adjustments, if needed, to better fulfill the objectives of CONCAUSA.

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