Although the Summit of the Americas was fraught with frustrations for President Obama, for El Salvador’s head of state, Mauricio Funes, the two-day event was a success. In his address to Summit participants, President Funes was able to announce “zero homicides” in El Salvador on Saturday, April 14th, for the first time in the nearly three years of his administration, a consequence of the fragile cease-fire agreement between the country’s two largest gangs, MS and Barrio 18. Not only was President Funes seated at the right hand of the U.S. president during official meetings, when the two leaders met privately, Funes received assurances of continued U.S. support on economic and security issues. Just three days later, El Salvador accepted the “voluntary transfer” of two Guantanamo prisoners as refugees.
Devoted to changing U.S. policy toward the countries of the Americas by basing our relations on mutual respect, fostering dialogue with those governments and movements with which U.S. policy is at odds, and recognizing positive trends in democracy and governance.
MORE BLOG POSTS
Tags
Tag Archives: President Funes
April 25, 2012
Building on success: How El Salvador is trying to keep gang violence down
Hannah Stone, Christian Science Monitor-After a truce between warring gangs cut murders in El Salvador by half last month, the government is moving to consolidate its security gains through work opportunities for ex-gang members – but this will prove more difficult than brokering the peace deal. Last week, El Salvador’s government announced… read more »
April 6, 2012
CUBA CENTRAL News Blast: Losing through intimidation
The political debate over U.S. policy toward Cuba has never been for the faint-hearted. It’s always raucous, highly emotional, sometimes violent, often absurd, and now increasingly irrelevant. The U.S. is castigated in the region and globally for the policy, and we’re increasingly marginalized – politically and economically – as allies… read more »
March 30, 2012
Informe Mensual: El Salvador, Marzo del 2012
El tumultuoso proceso electoral de medio período de la Asamblea Nacional y las municipalidades de El Salvador concluyó de forma ordenada el 11 de marzo con pocos problemas serios. En el transcurso de los días siguientes, se retiró la propaganda de las campañas, los salvadoreños se prepararon para disfrutar de unas largas vacaciones de Semana Santa en la playa y la clase política se sumió en un análisis postelectoral de victorias y derrotas. En el seno de la Asamblea Legislativa, surgieron de inmediato las negociaciones, a medida que los dos partidos mayoritarios (ARENA y el FMLN) —ninguno obtuvo una mayoría— se lanzaban a buscar votos entre las agrupaciones políticas más pequeñas para garantizarse el éxito en torno a diversos asuntos críticos que les esperan. Ahora que ya finalizaron las elecciones del 2012, empezó de inmediato la contienda presidencial del 2104, en tanto los esperanzados candidatos compiten inmediatamente por quedar bien situados.
March 30, 2012
El Salvador Update: March 2012
The tumultuous mid-term electoral process for El Salvador’s National Assembly and municipalities concluded in an orderly fashion on March 11th with few serious problems. In the following days, campaign propaganda came down, Salvadorans prepared for long Semana Santa vacations at the beach and the political class was immersed in post-election analysis of victories and defeats. In the National Assembly, negotiations were immediately underway as the two major parties (ARENA and the FMLN), neither with a majority, hunted for votes among smaller parties to guarantee success on critical issues ahead. With 2012 elections over, the campaign for the 2014 presidential contest began straightaway as hopeful candidates jockeyed for position.
March 23, 2012
As old saying goes, where you stand depends on where you sit. As the New York Times reported this week, Cuba’s Cardinal Ortega, the priests, the faithful, the protestors in Cuba, the diaspora in Miami, official Washington, and many others have assigned great expectations to the visit of Pope Benedict… read more »
March 12, 2012
Special Update: The Salvadoran Elections
Salvadoran voters shift to the right: ARENA, the conservative party that held power until 2009, is once again the primary political force in El Salvador following a defeat for the left in National Assembly and municipal elections that reflects voter apathy, disillusion with promises of “change,” and profound concern about the inability of the government to control the critical public security crisis.
January 23, 2012
VIDEO: Interview with Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martínez on 20th anniversary of Peace Accords
On our latest trip to El Salvador, CDA had an exclusive interview with Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martínez about the importance of President Funes’ speech at the site of the El Mozote massacre on the 20th anniversary of the signing of El Salvador’s Peace Accords.
December 23, 2011
El Salvador: Informe Mensual – Noviembre y Diciembre de 2011
Resumen: El pueblo de El Salvador, al igual que quienes admiran este país en el exterior, se estremecieron por la muerte repentina e inesperada del Dr. Héctor Silva. En el ámbito de la política interna, la designación del Ministro de Defensa para ocupar el delicado puesto de Ministerio de Justicia… read more »
December 23, 2011
El Salvador Update: November-December 2011
Summary: People in El Salvador – along with admirers outside the country – were shaken by the sudden and unexpected death of Dr. Héctor Silva. In the realm of internal politics, the appointment of the Minister of Defense to the sensitive civilian position of Minister of Justice and Security renewed… read more »
STAY CONNECTED