Asunción, Agencia IP.- The President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, met with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Richard Verma. During their meeting, they discussed the fight against corruption and accountability and transparency in the use of public resources.
The meeting took place yesterday at Mburuvicha Róga. The participants agreed that transparent management improves government performance and strengthens citizens’ trust in institutions.
At a press conference, Richard Verma thanked President Peña and the Paraguayan people for the warm welcome and for discussing issues central to their bilateral relationship.
He mentioned that Paraguay is the United States’ friend, ally, and important strategic partner. He welcomed the meeting with the President, who coincided with the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS).
The United States views government initiatives positively
«In our meeting, I spoke with the President about the support of the U.S. Government to Paraguay in the fight against corruption and impunity. These practices generate distrust and discourage foreign investment, directly affecting the country’s development and stability,» he said.
In this regard, he noted that during the meeting, the Head of State highlighted some of his government’s initiatives in the fight against corruption, which the U.S. views positively.
At the same time, the United States encouraged Paraguay to expand its efforts so that crimes do not go unpunished.
He emphasized that when it comes to corruption, the consequences must be the same for everyone, from low-level officials to the political and economic elites; otherwise, it undermines citizens’ trust in democracy. «Foreign investors pay close attention to the rule of law when deciding where to invest their money,» he added.
In this context, he pointed out that transparency and accountability are fundamental in a state of law and for adherence to the principles of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. «We hope to continue our cooperation with Paraguay in this regard and thus further strengthen our friendship,» he expressed.
Regarding the rule of law, President Peña and the high-ranking American official discussed their mutual condemnation of the illegal mobilization of Bolivian troops.
He also expressed his gratitude to the government for its management and collaboration in advancing the four pillars of the OAS: democracy, human rights, security, and development in the Western Hemisphere.
«The President and the Paraguayan people have been excellent hosts of this General Assembly, and I am delighted to be here for the most important meeting of the multilateral organization of the Western Hemisphere,» he concluded.