{"code":"25403","sect":"Central America","sect_slug":"central-america","hits":"900","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/en\/202104\/centroamerica\/25403","link_edit":"","name":"\u201cAn Economic Crisis in El Salvador Could Prompt a New Wave of Migration\u201d","slug":"-ldquo-an-economic-crisis-in-el-salvador-could-prompt-a-new-wave-of-migration-rdquo-","info":"Biden\u2019s Special Envoy to the Northern Triangle of Central America, Ricardo Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, shrugged off Bukele\u2019s refusal to meet with him during his visit to San Salvador last week. In a wide-ranging interview, Z\u00fa\u00f1iga insinuated that the United States will endorse El Salvador\u2019s bid to restructure its debt with the International Monetary Fund because an economic crisis in the country \u201ccould prompt a new of migration.\u201d Insisting on respect for the rule of law, he also warned that his government is willing to take action in the region against \u201chigh-level individuals involved in illicit activities.\u201d ( Leer en espa\u00f1ol )","mtag":"Politics","noun":{"html":"Jos\u00e9 Luis Sanz \/ Washington","data":{"jose-luis-sanz-washington":{"sort":"","slug":"jose-luis-sanz-washington","path":"jose_luis_sanz_washington","name":"Jos\u00e9 Luis Sanz \/ Washington"}}},"view":"900","pict":{"cms-image-000035687-jpg":{"feat":"1","sort":"35687","name":"cms-image-000035687.JPG","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000035687.JPG","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000035687.JPG","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000035687-jpg","text":"<p>During his trip to San Salvador on April 8, 2021,\u00a0Ricardo Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, Special Envoy to the Northern Triangle of Central America, met with the Commissioner Ronalth Ocaeta of the International Commission against Impunity in El Salvador (CICES), Attorney General R\u00e1ul Melara, and Brendan O'Brien, the U.S. Embassy's charg\u00e9 d'affairs. Photo: V\u00edctor\u00a0Pe\u00f1a\/El Faro<\/p>","capt":"\u003Cp\u003EDuring his trip to San Salvador on April 8, 2021,\u00a0Ricardo Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, Special Envoy to the Northern Triangle of Central America, met with the Commissioner Ronalth Ocaeta of the International Commission against Impunity in El Salvador (CICES), Attorney General R\u00e1ul Melara, and Brendan O'Brien, the U.S. Embassy's charg\u00e9 d'affairs. Photo: V\u00edctor\u00a0Pe\u00f1a\/El Faro\u003C\/p\u003E"},"cms-image-000035688-jpg":{"feat":"0","sort":"35688","name":"cms-image-000035688.JPG","link":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000035688.JPG","path":"https:\/\/elfaro.net\/images\/cms-image-000035688.JPG","back":"","slug":"cms-image-000035688-jpg","text":"<p><br class=\"Apple-interchange-newline\" \/>Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, left, alongside Charg\u00e9 d'Affairs Brendan O'Brien, the U.S. Embassy's highest-ranking interim official before Biden appoints his first ambassador to El Salvador. Photo: V\u00edctor\u00a0Pe\u00f1a\/El Faro<\/p>","capt":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr class=\"Apple-interchange-newline\" \/\u003EZ\u00fa\u00f1iga, left, alongside Charg\u00e9 d'Affairs Brendan O'Brien, the U.S. Embassy's highest-ranking interim official before Biden appoints his first ambassador to El Salvador. Photo: V\u00edctor\u00a0Pe\u00f1a\/El Faro\u003C\/p\u003E"}},"pict_main__sort":35687,"date":{"live":"2021\/04\/12"},"data_post_dateLive_YY":"2021","data_post_dateLive_MM":"04","data_post_dateLive_DD":"12","text":"\u003Cp id=\"docs-internal-guid-c672bbee-7fff-29da-e536-19968465294b\" dir=\"ltr\"\u003ERicardo Z\u00fa\u00f1iga has spent the past four days fielding the same question with diplomatic stoicism and a poker smile. The government of El Salvador, he has repeatedly said, should be the one to explain why Nayib Bukele turned down a meeting with him last week during his one-day trip to San Salvador.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIt\u2019s a textbook answer meant to avoid spiraling conflict. While the snub was a visible stain on the special envoy\u2019s first trip to the region, the Biden administration has vowed to work with Central American governments to slow migration, a means to an end that is impossible without dialogue with El Salvador. Especially given that the number of migrant children in U.S. shelters spiked above 20 thousand and that, in March alone, the Border Patrol hit the record number of 172,000 monthly encounters with undocumented people attempting to cross the border.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EZ\u00fa\u00f1iga\u2019s work in the region will be a balancing act. Though avoiding direct responses and hedging every phrase, sometimes to the point of dilution, he nonetheless left hints of his priorities and plan of action. He acknowledged that his chief priority is to halt migration, while noting that in the medium term he would claim success if he could \u201cachieve a notable turn in the political dynamics and governance of Central America.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ETo that end, he insists on the need for the international community to support local efforts to investigate corruption and fight against impunity, asserting that the International Commission against Impunity in El Salvador (CICIES) should be more independent \u2014 a friction point with Bukele, who announced last week he would veto \u003Ca href=\"\/en\/202102\/el_salvador\/25255\/Inside-Civil-Society's-Bid-to-Strengthen-Anti-Corruption-Commission-in-El-Salvador.htm\"\u003Elegislation from civil society to strengthen its mandate\u003C\/a\u003E. Z\u00fa\u00f1iga also claims that the State Department\u2019s forthcoming list of Central American officials implicated in corruption won\u2019t withhold names for political reasons. Permitting corruption in exchange for aspects of the U.S. agenda, he argues, \u201cis not a good formula for success.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ETime will tell whether he will adhere to the confrontational messaging and threats of sanctions emanating from Washington. Despite concerns from the State Department and Congress about the Bukele administration\u2019s course in terms of democracy, Z\u00fa\u00f1iga implies that the United States will almost certainly support El Salvador\u2019s negotiations with the International Monetary Fund. \u201cWe know that the macroeconomic situation in El Salvador is critical at the moment,\u201d he says. \u201cFor the United States it\u2019s important to address this problem because an economic crisis in El Salvador could prompt another wave of migration.\u201d Factoring into that statement is likely also the developing ties between Bukele, along with other countries in the region, and China.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EZ\u00fa\u00f1iga isn\u2019t the only Biden official to weigh his words carefully right now. On April 11, Juan S. Gonz\u00e1lez, the National Security Council Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere, who two months ago \u003Ca href=\"\/en\/202101\/internacionales\/25184\/%E2%80%9CA-Leader-Unready-to-Go-after-Corruption-Won't-be-a-US-Ally%E2%80%9D.htm\"\u003Esaid that the United States would not partner with any leader who isn\u2019t ready to go after corruption\u003C\/a\u003E, reopened the door for working with Honduran president Juan Orlando Hern\u00e1ndez, accused in New York of drug trafficking: \u201cRight now he\u2019s the elected president of Honduras. We\u2019ll work with his government to find common ground.\u201d Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, too, notes the United States\u2019 \u201cbroad relationship with Honduras, despite this sensitive situation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=2000&ImageHeight=1333&ImageId=35687 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"During his trip to San Salvador on April 8, 2021,\u00a0Ricardo Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, Special Envoy to the Northern Triangle of Central America, met with the Commissioner Ronalth Ocaeta of the International Commission against Impunity in El Salvador (CICES), Attorney General R\u00e1ul Melara, and Brendan O'Brien, the U.S. Embassy's charg\u00e9 d'affairs. Photo: V\u00edctor\u00a0Pe\u00f1a\/El Faro\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E During his trip to San Salvador on April 8, 2021,\u00a0Ricardo Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, Special Envoy to the Northern Triangle of Central America, met with the Commissioner Ronalth Ocaeta of the International Commission against Impunity in El Salvador (CICES), Attorney General R\u00e1ul Melara, and Brendan O'Brien, the U.S. Embassy's charg\u00e9 d'affairs. Photo: V\u00edctor\u00a0Pe\u00f1a\/El Faro \u003Cdiv class=\"photographer text_italic rule--ss_l tint-text--idle\"\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDoes the fact that you\u2019re the Special Envoy for the Northern Triangle and not for Central America suggest your work will focus on migration and not on strengthening democracy in the region, especially considering that your mandate doesn\u2019t cover Nicaragua, the country suffering the biggest threat to democracy?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ENo, but I completely understand how you could interpret it in that way. The biggest problems, from the viewpoints of the United States, Congress, and the executive branch, come from the three countries in northern Central America, but it\u2019s impossible to leave out the fourth country, Nicaragua, where we also see a serious problem. The framework we\u2019re using for my mandate is democracy, and as such we have to treat the most serious problems we see in all of the countries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIt\u2019s true that most of the focus has been placed on the three northern countries, specifically because of the impact they\u2019re having on our southern border, and given that what is happening here is going to continue until we can more profoundly address the structural problems in Central America, but it\u2019s impossible to separate these three countries from Mexico or from the rest of the isthmus. We need to talk of the whole ecosystem.\u00a0\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDoes this mean you\u2019ll be working directly with Nicaragua?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EI\u2019m going to focus my work on the three countries in northern Central America, but will be working with others to incorporate an integral regional vision. We\u2019re also talking about labor flows within Central America, and it\u2019s impossible to talk about the problems that the United States is confronting without talking about Costa Rica, an important partner and also a destination country. This is a shared problem, and when I say \u2018problem,\u2019 I\u2019m referring to the massive irregular flow of people. We can also talk about El Salvador, which this year is not a major source of migrants but it has been in the past, and it could be again.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou began saying no, but in reality you\u2019re confirming that migration will be at the center of your work \u2014 not just in the short term, but as the main focus.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EBecause it\u2019s the most destabilizing phenomenon in the region. But it\u2019s a symptom. And so, of course, we\u2019ll have to focus on the phenomenon that most affects the United States, but treating the symptom doesn\u2019t mean that we won\u2019t address the roots, and my work will be more focused on that facet. Never in my career have I seen so much attention placed on Central America, and of course it\u2019s because of what\u2019s going on, but there\u2019s another element here: we understand that it\u2019s complex, not a single issue. And treating the causes of this complexity will require an integral approach.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe degree of work is also different for Mexico. We speak with them a lot, and it is precisely because the topic requires broader attention than we have given it in the past.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat would you consider success? Because structural changes aren\u2019t going to happen in four years, and definitely not in the two years the administration has before the midterm elections.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIt\u2019s a job that will take decades. The objectives are not going to be realized immediately. But an important step will be to achieve a notable turn in the political dynamics and governance of Central America. That will be something to hope for.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIn 2009 the Obama administration ended up legitimating a coup d\u2019\u00e9tat in Honduras, and U.S. policy towards Nicaragua is not seeming to work. With this history, what actual impact do you expect to achieve with Central American governments?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWell, during that period we also had important victories with MACCIH and CICIG [international commissions focused on fighting corruption in Honduras and Guatemala, respectively]. We saw that when the United States and the international community worked together we were able to find success in the fight against corruption. When that support lagged and there was less attention on the effort, there was backsliding and the bodies dissolved, but we were able to see that the model works: support from the international community to people who work inside the national systems, the justice systems, the investigative systems, the legislative systems. Because there are public officials who want to achieve these results. And the role of the international community is not to substitute these actors, but to support them. I believe that we have a margin we can work within there.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA few days ago the Treasury Department and the State Department delivered to \u003Ca href=\"\/en\/202104\/centroamerica\/25392\/%E2%80%9CLike-It-or-Not-These-Are-the-Presidents-We-Have-to-Deal-With%E2%80%9D.htm\"\u003ERepresentative Norma Torres\u003C\/a\u003E a list of officials in the Northern Triangle supposedly implicated in corruption. And the famous \u2018Engel list\u2019 is being elaborated now. Will you be working on these lists?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EI am a consumer of these lists, which are elaborated through our embassies and by investigators in other areas of government. But we will see consequences. For me it\u2019s going to be important that we show we are ready to act against people who are involved in corruption, not just because that\u2019s what Congress requires of us, as it is effectively a mandate from Congress, but because it\u2019s an important means of supporting those who are fighting against corruption in Central America.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe dissemination of these lists could further provoke tensions with the presidents in the region, and also complicate the work. Will the State Department downplay the content or delay the publication of the lists so that you and Vice President Harris can do your diplomatic work?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ENo, and you can be sure of that. What is important for the elaboration of these lists are the criteria that they will establish, and then from there the embassies will suggest names. If you are linked to corruption and are in high office, you will automatically appear on the list. It is not a political question. Of course it is going to be complicated for me if there are high-level officials involved in illicit activities, but we have to fulfil the requirements mandated by Congress: to name these people. Working in the open is so much better than covering up problems. You see it in much of the world: allowing corruption to continue in return for support on a specific issue is not a good formula for success.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStaying on this topic, right now the relationship with Honduras seems to be complicated by the open investigation against President Juan Orlando Hern\u00e1ndez for his ties to drug trafficking. Is that the biggest obstacle to your work in the region?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWe have a broad relationship with Honduras, despite this sensitive situation. I have met with Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales and a number of officials from various agencies in Honduras. And in our embassy we continue to work to respond to important matters \u2014 not only about migration, but also in rebuilding after the hurricanes. We have a large agenda in Central America and we\u2019re always going to look to have constructive relationships with the leaders and their administrations. We will have to get around specific problems as they come up, but always with the idea of pushing forward in the big picture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDoes that mean that the Salvadoran government\u2019s evident message to you \u2014 not just President Bukele\u2019s decision not to meet with you, but also the public leak of that decision \u2014 will not be an impediment to the bilateral relationship? Is it up to you now to put on the friendly face?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EIt\u2019s not going to be an impediment. The work that we have to do with El Salvador we can accomplish through our embassy and through efforts with other officials in the Salvadoran government. I had great meetings with the foreign minister, with civil society, and with the private sector. The president made it very clear, through his statements, his anger towards various actors in the United States. The most important thing between friends is to speak directly, that there are no deceptions in the relationship, that each side makes clear what they consider important. This is what we\u2019ve done in this administration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Biden administration has expressed concerns about the governmental separation of powers, among other issues, in El Salvador. Are you leaving El Salvador more or less worried?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWhat I see is that there is a broad debate in El Salvador about what is going to be necessary to maintain the independence of institutions and strengthen the culture of democracy, which is an obligation for all of the signatories of the Inter-American Democratic Charter.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIn a press conference two weeks ago, while speaking about the fight against corruption and the necessity of backing local institutions, including prosecutors, you said, \u201c\u003Ca href=\"\/en\/202102\/el_salvador\/25255\/Inside-Civil-Society's-Bid-to-Strengthen-Anti-Corruption-Commission-in-El-Salvador.htm\"\u003Ean independent CICIES\u003C\/a\u003E could play that role.\u201d\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThat\u2019s right.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDo you think that the CICIES is sufficiently independent?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWhile in El Salvador I announced the allotment of 2 million dollars to the CICIES in support of its work, which we believe has been and continues to be indispensable for El Salvador. As I said then, we salute and applaud President Bukele\u2019s decision to begin the process with the OAS to establish the body. But that was the first step. I believe that the CICIES was always thought of as an independent body, and what we are supporting is the fulfilment of that conviction.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EHow that is achieved is up to the officials of El Salvador. We do not intervene in the sovereign decisions of El Salvador. What we do think, and what we show with this financial and political support of the CICIES, is that it was an excellent idea, it continues to be an excellent idea, and we are waiting to see an excellent final result. And that is just how we have applauded the actions and investigations that have so far played out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIn other words, the way you see it, an independent CICIES is an idea that has yet to be realized.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EI don\u2019t think that\u2019s only our impression, but also that of the OAS. I\u2019m not referring just to El Salvador. In Central America, and probably in other parts of the world, the support of the international community can be important, a help to the people who are working against corruption in the face of political pressure or threats from nongovernmental actors. And in this case it\u2019s the same.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E \u003Cfigure class=\"pict pict_land pict_move_posc 0 cs_img cs_img--curr rule--ss_c\" data-shot=\"pict\" data-hint=\"pict\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"pict__pobj text-overflow\"\u003E\u003Cimg src=https:\/\/elfaro.net\/get_img?ImageWidth=2000&ImageHeight=1333&ImageId=35688 class=\"pobj\" style=\"max-width: 100%\" rel=\"resizable\" alt=\"Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, left, alongside Charg\u00e9 d'Affairs Brendan O'Brien, the U.S. Embassy's highest-ranking interim official before Biden appoints his first ambassador to El Salvador. Photo: V\u00edctor\u00a0Pe\u00f1a\/El Faro\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E \u003Cfigcaption class=\"pict__text cs_img_caption folk_content typo_buttons line--ss_s0c line--ss_s0c--auto block full-width text-overflow rule--ss_l relative\"\u003E \u003Cdiv class=\"__content block-inline full-width align-top tint-text--idle relative\"\u003E Z\u00fa\u00f1iga, left, alongside Charg\u00e9 d'Affairs Brendan O'Brien, the U.S. Embassy's highest-ranking interim official before Biden appoints his first ambassador to El Salvador. Photo: V\u00edctor\u00a0Pe\u00f1a\/El Faro \u003Cdiv class=\"photographer text_italic rule--ss_l tint-text--idle\"\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/div\u003E \u003C\/figcaption\u003E \u003C\/figure\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThis financial support for the CICIES, playing out within a very delicate financial situation in the country, is only for 2021. This coincides with the term of the current attorney general, Ra\u00fal Melara, which ends at the end of the year. Is your future support of the CICIES conditioned on the independence of the next attorney general?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe CICIES or any other body of this type, along with the principal institutions, in this case the attorney general, work together. Because the CICIES doesn\u2019t have the authority to carry out judicial actions, and has to support the efforts of local actors. We are going to continue supporting the CICIES because we believe that what it has accomplished up until now has been useful. It has contributed to the efforts and commitments not only of the OAS but of Salvadoran officials in combatting corruption.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWill you have a say in the United States\u2019 stance, and role in the International Monetary Fund, in the IMF\u2019s ongoing negotiations with El Salvador?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWe know that the macroeconomic situation in El Salvador is critical at the moment. For the United States it\u2019s important to address this problem because an economic crisis in El Salvador could prompt a new wave of migration. But we don\u2019t want instability in El Salvador for any reason whatsoever. The third biggest market for the United States in the Americas, after Mexico and Brazil, is CAFTA. There are many reasons we want this stability.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ENow, the United States, as a donor to the Fund, and as an important member of the Fund, always places conditions on the implementation of an agreement. And Congress requires them as well. In this case we\u2019re talking about how the funds are managed and a long-term plan for how this temporary support will be utilized to successfully establish a sustainable pace of economic growth. We hope to collaborate in this growth and in the creation of opportunities in El Salvador. But in El Salvador there needs to be a clear rule of law, and those rules need to be clear to all.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EI\u2019m not sure if this is your personal opinion or if you\u2019re telling me this as someone who will help define the position of the United States.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe Treasury Department will play that role. As a representative of the State Department, I will not be part of that decision. But we are interested in how it will be made, and of course I\u2019m talking to the Treasury Department about its impressions of the agreement and the potential good use of these funds. So yes, I will be part of that conversation.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMoving on to Guatemala, one of the main worries is the independence of the justice system. On March 10, President Giammattei named Leyla Lemus, who was part of his cabinet, as magistrate of the Constitutional Court. She will take the bench this Wednesday, April 14. Did you discuss that issue in your conversation with President Giammattei? Were there any commitments made?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EYes and yes. We had a wide-ranging conversation about all aspects of the relationship. In all of the conversations we had in Guatemala we spoke of the need to support the independence of the branches of government, and especially about the worry in the United States over the perceived efforts to impede the independent work of judges. They assured us of their commitment on behalf of Guatemala to maintain that independence. And we also had meetings, for example, with Magistrate Gloria Porras, who has been facing threats, and with other judges and with the FECI [a special prosecutors\u2019 office investigating corruption], to demonstrate our support for those doing that work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EAll of this was part of the framework to create viable conditions for economic growth in all of Central America. President Giammattei has spoken of creating a wall of prosperity, and we share that vision. The one thing we can do is to create opportunities in Central America, and that is going to take establishing clear rules of institutional independence so that investments arrive.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou mention a wall of prosperity, but Guatemala has been treated well by the United States because it\u2019s functioning as a physical wall against migration. Guatemalan security forces have been stopping caravans by literally beating them back. Is that something that the United States applauds?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EAll countries have the right to protect their borders while abiding by the law. It\u2019s what the United States does when we say that the border is closed to unauthorized migration. Guatemala has the same right. What worries us is the massive irregular transit, which has many consequences \u2014 humanitarian, financial, but more than anything creating the impression that the only way to arrive to the United States is by irregular means.\u00a0\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWhich is why we are dedicating time into creating the conditions so that, for example, people seeking refuge have means of doing so that don\u2019t require them to travel to the U.S. border, and that systems of protection exist in Central America and Mexico. We have had good cooperation in that regard. It was part of our conversation in Guatemala. And yes, we appreciate the support from countries that block this irregular transit. Now, the caravans receive a lot of attention, but the most important flow is that of millions of people arriving drop by drop, every day.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EOne last question, about Honduras. Former U.S. officials, who don\u2019t represent the White House but seem to be close to the Biden Administration, such as Dan Restrepo, have said that at this point the United States cannot work with any of the presidential pre-candidates. Do you share that opinion?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EThe president, the vice president, the secretary of state, and Juan Gonz\u00e1lez from the National Security Council, have been very clear: the commitment of leaders in the fight against corruption is going to be an important part of our relationship with them. Because we believe that the impression that supporting impunity or the tolerance of corruption leaves is one of the factors that ruins hope in Central America.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003EWe have a lot of reasons. Migration is one of them, but the success of Central America will help the United States and the failure of Central America will hurt the United Stats in many ways, not only in terms of irregular migration. We are going to work with those who want to work with us, and that depends on their commitment in the fight for strong institutions and a culture of democracy.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cbr\/\u003E\u003Cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003E*Translated by John Washington and Roman Gressier\u003C\/p\u003E"}