Establish a working procedure, within the framework of the activities of the Central American Security Commission, between Central America and the United States of America, with a view to comprehensively addressing each issue identified in the agreements reached at the Thirty-Third Meeting of the Central American Security Commission, Dialogue Between Central America and the United States on Democratic Security, held in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on July 18, 2007.
II. Issues for Dialogue
1. Combating criminal gangs
2. Combating narcotics trafficking and related crimes
3. Illicit trafficking in small arms and light weapons
4. Organized crime
5. Border security
6. Natural Disasters
7. Trafficking in Persons
8. Terrorism
III. Structure of the Mechanism
(A) Central America-United States Security Commission
(B) Central America-United States Technical Group
(C) Central America Technical Group
(D) National Technical Groups
(E) National Points of Contact
(A) Central America-United States Security Commission
This body will serve as the highest authority for decision-making and responsibilities in the implementation of actions resulting from the dialogue. It will send the appropriate top authorities the results of its work and the pertinent proposals.
Central America will maintain the level of representation and responsibilities or functions that has been established for the Central America Security Commission under the Framework Treaty on Democratic Security in Central America (Deputy Ministers of Foreign Relations, Deputy Ministers of Government/Public Security, Deputy Ministers of Defense). The United States will be represented at a level commensurate with the level of representation of Central America.
(B) Central America-United States Technical Group
The aim of this Group will be to conduct a joint review of the issues for the dialogue between Central America and the United States of America, in order to propose to the Central America-United States Security Commission, on the basis of a consensus, the adoption of those agreements deemed necessary. It will operate by means of plenary sessions, which shall be carried out prior to the meetings of the Central America-United StatesTechnical Group or, in urgent situations, coordinated by a member of the Central American Security Commission PPT.
The Central America Technical Group shall be staffed by members of the joint meeting of the sub-commissions of the Central American Security Commission, coordination of whom shall be carried out by a representative of the Central American Security Commission PPT.
The United States of American shall be represented at the corresponding technical level.
(C) Central American Technical Group
The purpose of this Group will be to furnish a forum for dialogue among the Central American countries with a view to harmonizing, on the basis of a consensus, the Central American positions on each of the issues for dialogue with the United States of America. It will operate by means of plenary sessions, which shall be carried out prior to the meetings of the Central America-United StatesTechnical Group or, in urgent situations, coordinated by a member of the Central American Security Commission PPT.
The Central American Technical Group will be staffed by members of the joint meeting of the sub-commissions of the Central American Security Commission.
(D) National Technical Groups
These will be the forums for internal dialogue in each member country of the Central American Security Commission. Their goal is to establish the respective national positions on the issues for dialogue. Each country shall decide how these groups will be staffed, in accordance with its domestic policy.
(E) National Points of Contact on security matters
The U.S. and SICA states will identify specific points of contact for each of the themes of the dialogue. The purpose of the national points of contact will be to foster coordination of ongoing activities and dissemination of experiences and information.
IV. Mechanisms for Communication
For all matters relating to the Dialogue between Central America and the United States of America on Democratic Security, the procedures established in the Central American Security Commission and between the Central American Security Commission and the General Secretariat of the Central American Integration System will be followed.
V. Observers/Additional Participating States
Other states and organizations that can contribute to the dialogue can be invited.
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