Panetta, Peru’s Defense Minister Discuss Defense Cooperation

By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2012 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta welcomed Peruvian Defense Minister Luis Alberto Otárola Penaranda to the Pentagon today to discuss transnational organized crime, terrorism and a defense cooperation agreement.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said the secretary also commended Peru for its contributions to the United Nations stabilization mission in Haiti and congratulated Penaranda for the recent capture of the Shining Path terrorist group leader known as Artemio.

“Both leaders pledged to continue to deepen defense cooperation, and look forward to advancing those goals at the upcoming Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas in October,” Kirby said.

Created in 1995, the conference provides Western Hemisphere defense leaders with a venue to discuss topics of mutual concern, such as security-building measures, peace-support operations, civil-military relations and emerging threats.