USA says it will use “available tools” against corruption in Paraguay

The US ratified Thursday that it will continue to cooperate with the Government of Paraguay and warned that it would use “all available tools” to fight corruption after it banned for that reason the entry into its territory of Paraguayan Vice President Hugo Velázquez and former President Horacio Cartes (2013-2018).

“We will continue our work and our cooperation with the government of President Abdo Benítez and also with Paraguayan institutions with a commitment to democratic principles such as transparency and the rule of law,” said Washington’s ambassador to Asunción, Marc Ostfield, at a press conference.

The diplomat made this statement during a press conference at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, where he went on Thursday, August 25, along with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Brazil and the Southern Cone and for the Andean Region Affairs, Mark Wells, visiting the country.

Ostfield argued that foreign officials’ “significantly corrupt” designations are part of his country’s work to support the Paraguayan government and system in this fight.

“We will continue to use all available tools in the fight against corruption: visa restrictions, financial sanctions, extraditions, among others,” said the diplomat, who clarified that he could not reveal “any details” about possible ongoing or future investigations in his country.

In a brief statement to the press, Wells, who arrived in the country on Tuesday night, described as “very frank and open” the conversation he had with the substitute Minister of Foreign Affairs, Raúl Silvero, and thanked the government and the Paraguayan people for being an “important strategic ally in this region”.

“In Washington, we are very grateful for Paraguay’s support in matters of democracy, leadership in economic and human rights issues,” he added in his statement in Spanish.

His host, Silvero, described as “very positive” the meeting with the US representatives, in which he said they reviewed economic and trade issues, among others on the bilateral agenda.

In turn, the Minister of the Interior, Federico González, who received Wells in his office today, August 25, explained to reporters that they discussed cooperation, the fight against transnational organized crime, and joint results.

He confirmed that they also talked about the crime of anti-mafia prosecutor Marcelo Pecci, committed by hired assassins on an island in Colombia, which the Interior Minister considered an “emblematic case” for his country.

Gonzalez spoke from the Silvio Pettirossi airport after the departure of Paraguayan President Mario Abdo Benitez to Rome, where he will attend the consistory in which the first cardinal of his country, Adalberto Martinez Flores, will be invested.

Wells, who is expected to conclude his visit to the country this Friday, will also meet with representatives of the private sector.

With information from EFE

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