US embassy cable - 05GUATEMALA819

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUATEMALA 000819 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, SMIG, PHUM, ASEC, SNAR, EAID, MASS, PREF, PTER, KCOR, KDEM, GT 
SUBJECT: LETTER TO SECRETARY RICE FROM GUATEMALAN FM BRIZ 
 
 
1.  Embassy received late March 30 a letter from Guatemalan 
FM Jorge Briz to the Secretary.  Text follows in para 2.  The 
letter argues for greater cooperation in combatting 
narco-trafficking, alien smuggling and trafficking in persons 
by providing spare parts, training and other resources to 
Guatemalan police and military, including FMF and IMET. 
 
2.  Begin text of FM Briz's letter to the Secretary: 
 
March 29, 2005 
 
Dear Madam Secretary, 
 
It is with great pleasure that I write to you today 
congratulating you for your confirmation as Secretary of 
State.  While wishing you the best personally as well as 
professionally in this important and challenging task that 
you are about to endeavor, I would also like to hope for the 
best of joys to you and your family in this new year. 
 
Likewise, I would like to offer you the best of my knowledge 
and understanding in advancing and strengthening our 
bilateral relations that happily exist between both of our 
governments and people, and which currently are in their best 
historical moments. 
 
As our countries move forward in a globalized world, threats 
and interests have internationalized without recognition of 
borders.  Guatemala is going through very important changes, 
especially in the work against corruption and the rescuing of 
democratic institutions, but as you also may be aware, there 
are some issues -- particularly in the security arena (the 
fight against Organized Crime that includes Drug Traffic, 
Trafficking in Persons, and Alien Smuggling) -- that need 
stronger cooperation and understanding of allies and friendly 
countries.  In Guatemala, the Administration of President 
Berger is fighting this kind of threat with national 
resources and the cooperation of the United States. 
 
The spillover from the fight against these mutual threats (in 
which the United States is fully engaged, particularly in 
Colombia, the Andean region and Mexico) is forcing Organize 
Crime (drug lords, particularly) to search for alternative 
countries to continue doing business as usual.  Due to our 
unique geographical position (border with Mexico and NAFTA), 
Guatemala is being used by criminals as a transit area to 
ultimately reach north, corrupting in their path private and 
public people while endangering the health and well-being of 
our society. 
 
Furthermore, a new threat has arisen in our society:  the 
street gangs (maras).  The administration of President 
Berger, with the help of the police force, is aiming to fight 
and restrain this new threat.  According to intelligence, 
these "street gangs" are not only involved in common crime 
but are also being used by Organized Crime (drug traffickers, 
traffickers in persons, and alien smugglers) to divert the 
efforts of our National Police. 
 
In 2004 President Berger reduced our military in half 
complying with state commitments under the Peace Accords.  A 
significant portion of the military budget was then 
re-directed to social spending.  We were accordingly forced 
to engage the military (border patrols), not only in the 
fight against Organized Crime (drug traffickers, alien 
smugglers and traffickers in persons) -- who have access to 
very sophisticated combat equipment -- but also in assisting 
to control the street gangs as our yet small police force 
(5,800 elements) do not suffice. 
 
Having said that and due to:  (a) the dimension of the 
threats; (b) the different borders (Mexico, Salvadoran, 
Honduran and the adjacency zone with Belize) and territorial 
sea that need to be patrolled and controlled by the military 
force and; (c) the increase of common crime and violence that 
threaten our democratic governance and which is being fought 
by combined forces (National Civil Police and Military), we 
believe that a profound strategy between both our countries 
needs to be developed and should include, among other issues, 
the following: 
 
1.  A more thorough engagement in the fight against Drug 
Trafficking, Alien Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons. 
This can include sharing technology, spare parts for 
different equipment, training and the commitment of greater 
financial resources to our National Police Force and the 
Military. 
 
2.  Cooperation in looking for new avenues to help lift the 
ban imposed by the US Congress on Guatemalan Military access 
to programs like Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and 
International Military Education and Training (IMET). 
 
3.  Cooperation on all fronts to our National Civil Police in 
the fight against (street gangs) "las maras." 
 
Last but not least, I would like to take this opportunity to 
extend to you on behalf of my government an invitation to 
visit Guatemala at a time you consider the most appropriate 
moment. 
Hoping to work with you in the near future, I avail myself of 
the opportunity to renew to you my highest consideration and 
personal esteem. 
/s/ 
 
Jorge Briz Abularach 
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores 
 
End of text. 
HAMILTON