Panama, Guatemala for Integration

(Prensa Latina, March 23) Panama President Martin Torrijos and Guatemalas Alvaro Colom advocated for regional integration as a way to face effects of the current global financial crisis in Central America. "We must unite and seek ways to move forward at a time when the recession in the United States is affecting our economies," said Torrijos on his official visit to this country.

Both statesmen inked a declaration in which they expressed concern for the fact that the fall of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in industrialized countries decreases the flow of cooperation to less developed nations.

They made a call to foster the Central American Integration System, bilateral cooperation, social programs and rural development, to compensate the most deprived sectors.

Both heads of State also demanded support from multilateral organizations like the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration.

Colom and Torrijos expressed their willingness to foster relations between the Central American countries and those from the Caribbean Community, with which they share ethnic roots, cultural values, and political affinity.

Torrijos' extensive agenda today includes attending a Socialist International event, visiting the Congress, and meeting with the capital's mayor Alvaro Arzu.