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The OAS and France Seek to Strengthen Cooperation in Criminal Matters to Advance in the Fight against Terrorism

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, met yesterday at the headquarters of the institution in Washington, DC with the Minister of Justice of France, Christiane Taubira, with whom he discussed possibilities for cooperation in criminal justice, the protection of human rights, new ways of tackling the problem of drugs and the fight against terrorism.

Minister Taubira, accompanied by members of her staff, expressed interest in the major initiatives and programs of the OAS in these areas. In this context, Secretary General Insulza, joined by the heads of the OAS in these areas, referred to the importance of close collaboration between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean on judicial matters, and said "the issue of terrorism poses a challenge of a global nature, and the ways of addressing it have become increasingly complex faced with new threats and methods." That is why, he added, "working together and finding faster and more effective mechanisms for cooperation is increasingly urgent."

The OAS leader said "in addition to being a Permanent Observer to our Organization, France is also a strategic partner with whom we have worked not only in the areas of security and justice, but also to promote democracy and peace in the region."

For her part, Minister Taubira highlighted the importance of strengthening international relations to facilitate the task of combating terrorism and noted that her country aims to "fight terrorism without weakening democracy or the rule of law."

During the meeting, the participants discussed cooperation initiatives intended to strengthen ties and coordinated work through the exchange of information and best practices, under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by France in November 2012 to participate in the Hemispheric Information Exchange Network for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters. The document was signed during the Third Meeting of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General of the Americas (REMJA III) held in Quito, Ecuador.

Minister Taubira has participated as an observer in several meetings of the REMJA, and in this context she has embodied her country’s support for the Hemispheric Information Exchange Network for Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition. Building on existing cooperation, Monday´s meeting sought to identify new ways to deal with new threats affecting the countries, and to explore aspects of human rights protection.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-033/15