Minister Cort engages in Bilateral Talks

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Thursday, 11 October 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's - Minister of National Security, Sen. the Hon. Dr. Cort has held bilateral discussions over the past two days while at the 10th Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas (CDMA) in Uruguay, with the delegation and Ministers of Defence of Canada, the United States of America and the Federative Republic of Brazil.

On Monday, Minister Cort met with Dr. Frank Mora US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Western Hemisphere Affairs and General Douglas Fraser of the US Southern Command.

High on the agenda was the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and determining if the initiative was meeting the requirements particularly in the areas of greatest need. Dr. Cort indicated that the region has gotten over the initial challenges of implementation of the CBSI.

He gave the example of the finger print system now being rolled out throughout the region and the bilateral and possible multilateral arrangements that are being developed as a result of this and other CBSI sponsored initiatives. 


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Further discussions were had on the establishment of a Maritime Center of Excellence in Antigua, and the sharing of information between not only Caricom member states but also between the US and Caricom.

In this regard, consideration was given to a proposed strategic direction to support information sharing. 
 
In his capacity as the head of the Ministers of National Security within the Regional Security System (RSS) and Caricom Council of Ministers responsible for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), Minister Cort also discussed ways to support the efforts of the CBSI at that level and possible regional approaches geared at sustainable funding of the regional security mechanisms i.e. RSS and IMPACS.
 
In his meeting with the Brazilian Minister of Defence Ambassador Celso Amorim, Dr. Cort discussed the establishment of formal military/security relations with Brazil.

In particular, discussions were had in the area of training and education, general security assistance and maritime support.

The ministers committed to the exchange of definitive and detailed proposals and reciprocal ministerial visits in early 2013 to formalize the relationship.
 
The final bilateral meeting was had with Canadian Minister of Defence Mr. Peter Mackay and the Canadian Chief of Staff General W Natynczyk. Dr. Cort thanked the Canadian delegation for their support and their renewed engagement in the region particularly in the area of security assistance. Discussions relating to supporting the nation’s maritime security efforts and filling the existing void in that area were also held. Mention was made of the recent visit by a team from the Canadian Department of Defence, which conducted a needs assessment survey and examined methods of engagement for Antigua and Barbuda and the Eastern Caribbean. In addition, matters of technical support to the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), including a regimental affiliation with a Canadian Unit was placed on the table for consideration.

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