President meets with Brazil’s Minister of Defence and team
-Guyana/Brazil ink security agreement

Georgetown, GINA, April 21, 2008

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bharrat Jagdeo today met with Brazil’s Minister of Defence Nelson Azevedo Jobim and team at the Office of the President to discuss security matters and the form of assistance Brazil will be giving to Guyana to aid its security sector. Also at the meeting was Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Commodore Gary Best and Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee. 
            Following the high level meeting which saw the countries’ bilateral and multilateral matters regarding security being the focus, an agreement was signed.
            The agreement will see Guyana benefitting from a donation of military equipment to the GDF and GDF Officers being provided with training through various Brazilian military academies.
            It is expected that Guyana will be receiving, among other equipment, an electric powered generator, computers, high precision rifles, radio equipment, Global Positioning   Systems (GPSs), night vision goggles and helmets.
Meanwhile, Guyana’s neighbour to the south will also be assisting the GDF with the construction of a command post near Bartica, which the Brazilian officials described as ‘the jungle warfare centre’.  
            The Minister pointed out that the assistance came following a request by the GDF. He disclosed too that his country is also in the process of considering a list submitted by the GDF which is being examined by the Brazilian military.          
            According to the Defence Minister, who spoke to the media through interpretation by Brazil’s Ambassador to Guyana, Arthur Meyer, said another issue discussed was the formation of the South American Defence Council, a body being mulled as a forum for discussion between Ministers of Defence of South American countries in order that they may find common ground on matters occurring worldwide which may affect the countries.
           “Sometimes for instance we have low intensity conflicts that may spread out of control and this may in some way negatively affect South America,” he said.
            The Ambassador, in stressing that the council is not a military alliance, noted that its objectives are based on the principles of respect, national sovereignty, non interference in internal affairs of all States involved and respect for their borders. He added that it will simply be a forum for the Ministers to discuss and debate matters of mutual consideration.
            “What is important is that South America needs to have one voice in the multilateral defence forum,” Minister Jobim reiterated.  
            The formation of the South American Defence Council is expected to be discussed in detail at the Summit of Heads of State of South America to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 23, 2008.  

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