Mexico urges regional militaries to focus on disaster response 

Mexico urges regional militaries to focus on disaster response

Mexico City, Feb 29, 2012 (Menafn - EFE via COMTEX) --Mexico's defense secretary, who assumed leadership of the Conference of American Armies, called upon the armed forces of the region to improve their capability to respond "in a timely and forceful way" to natural disasters.

Guillermo Galvan said it was a "priority" for the armies of the Americas to evolve "organically and functionally" to be able to provide disaster relief.

In keeping with taking over the leadership position in the 30th Cycle of the CAA, Galvan emphasized that natural disasters heavily impact the security and development of nations.

He added that over the two years during which he will head the CAA he will push for measures that "allow (us to) successfully confront the challenges the hemisphere experiences with regard to disasters."

Galvan said that the CAA member nations should tighten their "respective institutional links" to establish procedures so that all the member nations' common aspirations for wellbeing may be attained.

The CAA is an organization with the objective of being a forum for the analysis and exchange of ideas and experiences within the defense environment, with full respect for the sovereignty of each country.

Galvan is the first Mexican defense secretary to head the CAA. EFE

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