Russia Will Not Be Allowed to Destabilize Europe, Rice Says.  Russia will not be allowed to win in Georgia and destabilize Europe by creating spheres of influence along its borders, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said after an emergency meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Belgium.

New Orleans Mardi Gras Indians Take Guatemala.  Six members of New Orleans’ famed Mardi Gras Indian tribes wowed Guatemalan audiences during a seven-day, high-velocity tour of the country July 7-13. The visit, the first leg of a Guatemala-Honduras tour, was partially funded through ECA’s Performance Arts Initiative. The group, members of a famed Afro-American tradition unique to New Orleans, takes its name from the colorful plumed costumes members wear. The costumes, known locally as “suits,” are modeled after American Indian tribal regalia and are intended to honor the Native American people who supported slaves during the slave era.

State’s Negroponte Targets Illegal Drugs on Central American Trip. Washington -- Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte's June 3-6 trip to Central America focused atgtention on a U.S. proposal to fight drug trafficking and organizaed crime in Mexico and the nations of Central America.




• PRESS CONFERENCE - Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte in Guatemala
• REMARKS - Ambassador John D. Negroponte at the OAS 38th General Assembly
• BIOGRAPHY - Ambassador John D. Negroponte, Deputy Secretary of State

Advancing Freedom and Democracy Reports.  The Department of State has submitted the “Advancing Freedom and Democracy Report 2008“ to the Congress regarding U.S. efforts to promote democracy and human rights in nondemocratic countries and countries undergoing democratic transitions worldwide. The Department chose the 106 countries represented after taking into consideration the Act’s definition of a “non-democratic country or democratic transition country” and the requirement that the Department take into account the views of nongovernmental organizations.

Student Leaders Workshop in Sololá. From June 16-27, the United States Embassy in Guatemala sponsored an workshop for young indigenous leaders co-hosted by the Universidad del Valle-Altiplano in Sololá. The workshop brought together 25 young men and women from across the Guatemalan highlands for two weeks of intensive lectures and activities led by visiting U.S. experts.

Trafficking in Persons Report 2008. "We are pleased that in the seven years since the creation of the Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the United States and our friends and allies have made important strides in confronting the reality that human beings continue to be bought and sold in the twenty-first century. It has been gratifying to witness the determined governments, human rights and women’s groups, faith-based organizations, and many brave individuals who are dedicated to advancing human dignity worldwide. Trafficking and exploitation plague all nations, and no country, even ours, is immune."

• REPORT TEXT - Guatemala Section

President Bush Meets with Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom Caballeros. PRESIDENT BUSH: It's been my honor to welcome to the Oval Office the President and First Lady of a close friend of the United States. Mr. President, thank you for coming. We've had a good discussion about a variety of issues. We discussed bilateral relations between Guatemala and the United States, which are very strong. We are friends. We treat each other with respect.

Central America and the Merida Initiative. Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Burton, and Members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this Subcommittee today to discuss the Central America portion of the Merida Initiative and the opportunity it represents for regional security cooperation among not only the countries of Central America, but also with the United States and Mexico. Drug trafficking, gang violence, crime, and human smuggling, all linked to Central America, now directly afflict many areas of the United States, while arms and cash flows move south across our border and through Mexico to sustain these criminal organizations. The United States has a compelling strategic interest in moving quickly to reinforce our partnership with Central America to check illicit activity in the region.

U.S. Multi-million Dollar Package to Assist Guatemala in the Fight Against Narcotraffic, Organized Crime.  U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala James M. Derham presented to Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom a $21 million aid package to be used over a two-year period. A key component of the assistance provided is the use and maintenance of four U.S. Huey II helicopters, which is expected to significantly bolster the Government of Guatemala's ability to fight narco-trafficking and organized crime. The official ceremony took place at the Presidential Hangar in Guatemala City.

President Bush Announces Intention to Nominate Stephen McFarland as U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala.  President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate Stephen McFarland, of Texas, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Guatemala.

U.S. Department of State Releases 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.  At a March 11 press conference marking the public release of the annual 2007 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Rice said: “In every region of the world, men and women are working peacefully, and often at great risk to themselves and their families, to secure human rights and fundamental freedoms, to follow their consciences and speak their minds without fear, to choose those who would govern them and to hold their leaders accountable and to achieve equal justice under the law.

• GUATEMALA SECTION - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2007
• PREFACE - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2007
• REMARKS - Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice

U.S. Department of State Releases 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.  The 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. It describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2007. Volume I covers drug and chemical control activities. Volume II covers money laundering and financial crimes.

• GUATEMALA SECTION - Drug and Chemical Control
• GUATEMALA SECTION - Money Laundering and Financial Crimes

Missing American Citizen Child and his Salvadoran Grandfather Could be in Guatemala. Nicolas Marcel Santin (13 years old) has been missing since December 2005. His maternal grandfather, Andres Santin Arguera (63 years old), has a warrant against him for international parental kidnapping. If you have information regarding them, please call the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala during working hours (502)2326-4405 or after working hours (502)2331-2354.