Present and former ambassadors from Mexico, Spain, Colombia, and Costa Rica spoke at the event, which was co-sponsored by The Inter-University Center for Terrorism Studies. Rep. Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), who is the chairman of the House subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, also served on a panel and discussed United States involvement in the tumultuous region.

“With our geographic proximity and close economic ties, the safety and security of Latin America have a direct impact on the United States and we certainly believe that we need to confront many of these pressing challenges together,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said in his opening remarks.

“Latin America’s security challenges are United States security challenges as well; there is no separating them,” Engel agreed. “It transcends politics. It transcends democrat or republican…We need to make sure we eradicate all forms of terrorism.” Engel also discussed the negative impact Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has had in the region.

Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan, who also serves on the Mexican Council on Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Policy Association, emphasized the need for the United States to take an active stand against the proliferation of terrorism in Latin America. According to statistics he presented, 90 percent of all seized weapons in Mexico are imported from the United States. In order to successfully fight narco-trafficking in Latin America, Sarukhan stated that the United States must stop the illicit sale of weapons in Mexico. “There won’t be easy answers,” Sarukhan said, “and this is not a fight that will be over tomorrow.”

Colombia is one country that has already made strides toward combating terrorism and drug trafficking, but old methods will not continue to succeed, according to Colombian Ambassador Carolina Barco. “These threats know no boundaries,” she said. “We must keep an open mind. We must keep seeking new ways to address this issue.”

Former Spanish Ambassador and Executive Director of the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Javier Rupérez presented an innovative system for monitoring the progress of Latin American countries in combating terrorism. He demonstrated his mathematical system for quantifying the legislative advancements, taking into account the percentage of international bills ratified and each country’s compliance over time.

The session concluded with a report of the progress that has been made in Costa Rica over the last few years. Costa Rican Ambassador Luis Diego Escalante gave an overview of the steps the Costa Rican government has taken to combat its problems with terrorism and drug trafficking.

With members in 18 Latin American nations, B’nai B’rith International has been an advocate for United States collaboration with Latin America toward the elimination of terrorism and the sale and transport of illicit drugs in the hemisphere. “We pledge our continued support for a vibrant partnership between Latin America and the United States,” Mariaschin said, “and look forward to greater communication and cooperation between governments and institutions, as we confront these crucial issues of mutual concern together.”