Seminar on Civilian-Military relations
March 21, 2006

Good morning. It is an honor for me to be with you this morning for the inauguration of this seminar on Civilian-Military relations.  I congratulate the Minister of Defense, General Otto Alejandro Romero Orellana, for his valuable support that made this seminar possible.

As you know, for many years the United States has had a commitment to help El Salvador strengthen its democracy, and civilian-military relations and the rule of law are cornerstones of democracy.

As professionals who work on different aspects of public policy in our countries, we know that it is important that the concepts of national security allow for a security environment in which civil society can flourish along with greater understanding of the military system.

This seminar seeks to exchange ideas on how national security and the fight against terrorism operate in the U.S.

In this opportunity, we have the privilege of the presence of representatives of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California.  This week, they will review the challenges to consolidating democracy, civil-military relations, the relationship between democracy and national security, and other related issues such as international terrorism networks.

We all hope that this exchange will benefit both sides, and that it will help the continued strengthening of civilian-military relations  and the national security of El Salvador.

Thank you very much.