Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Salvador (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church in El Salvador has expressed hope that the 41st General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), which began its work yesterday, June 5, may come to the conclusion of agreements for effectively fighting crime in the country and the continent. "The hope is that there may be agreements that give us real benefits," the Archbishop of San Salvador, Mgr. José Luis Escobar Alas said in his usual press conference on Sunday, after celebrating Mass in the Cathedral. "I also hope that we can all unite as one continent. I hope the world will support us in this international forum," said Mgr. Escobar Alas . "The meeting is important, and must reach solutions to help the countries of the hemisphere on the issue of security," he added.
El Salvador, a country hosting the OAS meeting, is very impressed by the wave of crime and that is why the Archbishop has proposed that the General Assembly has as its central theme the safety of the community in the American States. "In El Salvador we are concerned about security," stated Mgr. Escobar Alas on behalf of the Salvadoran Catholic Church. "You cannot continue with these levels of violence on this continent and in this country," complained the Archbishop of San Salvador, urging the people of the region to help stop this plague.
The representatives of the OAS meet in El Salvador from June 5 to 7. 22 Foreign Ministers and 12 official delegations of the 34 OAS member countries, as confirmed by its Secretary, José Miguel Insulza, will take part in the 41st General Assembly. The opening speech of the Assembly saw the presentation of a security strategy against drug-dealing, gangs and organized crime in the area, by the general secretary of CAIS (Central American Integration System), Juan Daniel Aleman. (EC) (Agenzia Fides 06/06/2011)
