Guatemala asks for greater anti-drugs aid from US

Guatemalan President Oscar Berger Saturday urged the United States to provide more material and financial assistance for an efficient combat against drug trafficking.

Berger said "Guatemala is and will continue being a good partner of the United States in the combat against drug-trafficking," according to reports reaching here from Guatemala City, capital of Guatemala.

Berger's remarks came three days after the United States identified 14 Latin American nations, including Guatemala, as major drug producers or drug-transit points and warned that these countries could be subject to US sanctions unless they are deemed to be cooperating in the anti-narcotics fight.

"Should the United States want more efficiency, then it ought to be a better partner. They have the resources and must strengthen the Guatemalan army with speedboats and helicopters," Berger said.

Berger reaffirmed that the Guatemalan government has done its best in the combat against drug trafficking while complaining thatit lacks enough material and financial support.

"The only resources we count with in the combat against drug trafficking in Guatemala are ourselves," he added.

Guatemala has long been a transit point for shipping narcotics to Mexico and the world's biggest drug market, the United States.

Source: Xinhua