• Ambassador Ken Salazar highlighted this moment of security cooperation, especially under the Bicentennial Framework

Delegations from Mexico and the United States met today at the Foreign Ministry under the Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health and Safe Communities.  At the meeting, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, the two sides discussed coordination measures to strengthen their joint work and ensure that the consular networks in both countries function as they should.

“The Bicentennial Framework continues to deliver results for one of the central tasks of the Mexican State: compliance with the rule of law. Based on the Bicentennial Framework, the three levels of government, together with our neighbors to the north, will continue our cooperation to face the challenges of transnational organized crime," said Foreign Secretary Ebrard.

The Chief Officer for North America, Roberto Velasco, highlighted the expansion of Mexico's consular network in the United States with two new offices in Oklahoma and New Jersey. "Binational collaboration between the consular networks of Mexico in the United States and of the United States in Mexico is essential for strengthening the protection of our communities in both countries, as well as that of our respective diplomatic corps," he said.

In addition to Foreign Secretary Ebrard, the Mexican delegation included Chief Officer for North America Roberto Velasco and the Director General for Special Affairs, María de Hass, for the Foreign Ministry; and, on behalf of the Ministry of Security and Civilian Protection, Luis Wertman, Commissioner of the Federal Protection Service; Chief Commissioner Jorge Aarón Hirschberg, Director General of Security Services; Chief Commissioner Jean Paul Verduzco, Director General of Legal Affairs; and Rafael Saucedo, Director of Monitoring for the Bicentennial Framework.

Participating for the U.S. were Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, Deputy Head of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico; Timothy Dumas, Minister Counselor for Diplomatic Security; Daria Darnell, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs; Yolanda Parra, Consul General in Matamoros; Deanna Kim, Consul General in Nuevo Laredo; Eric Cohan, Consul General in Ciudad Juárez; and Colonel Andrew Leonard, Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy.

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