Central America seeks to open borders between nations

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador -- Central American nations are putting aside border bickering to allow the relatively free movement of people and goods between nations -- a goal that has US officials worried about a jump in smuggling of drugs and people in a region already plagued by crime and on the lookout for terrorists.

Wary of concerns but determined to operate as a regional bloc, leaders from Mexico to Panama will work out the plan today when they meet in this Salvadoran capital. Border controls have already been simplified between Guatemala and El Salvador, and officials will be discussing how to add Honduras and Nicaragua.

Regional integration has been Central America's goal since 1950, when the region's leaders signed an agreement to create a common market -- a mini-European Union that could better negotiate in an increasingly competitive world. But that goal has been held up by regional disputes and civil wars.

Countries participating in this week's talks are Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and even the Dominican Republic, which also joined regional free-trade talks with the United States. Ministers began discussions yesterday and presidents will join them today to wrap up the summit.

Six of the countries are represented in the Central American Parliament, which creates nonbinding recommendations for member countries. And, shortly after taking office in 2000, Mexican President Vicente Fox proposed a plan for increased trade and improved infrastructure from southern Mexico to Panama.

Central America and the Dominican Republic have reached a free trade agreement with the United States that still must be approved by the countries' legislatures. Panama -- which doesn't traditionally think of itself as part of Central America -- is following suit on its own.

But the newest step toward becoming a regional bloc is perhaps the most challenging: Removing customs and other border restrictions, allowing people and goods to move quickly and easily between nations.

Guatemala and El Salvador were the first to try it, pulling out customs and border control buildings and leaving one common checkpoint that reviews the passports of those crossing. Most taxes and other fees are to be paid electronically.

Honduras is expected to follow, then Nicaragua, creating a region with nearly identical visa and customs controls.

Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexico have declined to participate, in part because all three countries are already struggling with an influx of illegal Central American migrants who come to either look for work or, in the case of Mexico, pass through to the United States.

Citing the illegal migration, drug trafficking, corruption, and gang activity that thrives in Central America, US officials have expressed concern about removing the border checks. Michael O'Brien, the head of the US federal Drug Enforcement Administration in Guatemala, said the old border controls, complete with drug-sniffing dogs and car searches, often were the strongest safeguard against criminal activity.

The United States is also keeping a close eye on the region after several recent terrorism scares. US officials have said that an alleged top Al Qaeda operative, Adnan El Shukrijumah of Saudi Arabia, spent 10 days in Panama in April 2001. Honduran officials said he was spotted more recently at an Internet cafe there.

But Central American leaders say the new border plan won't hamper their fight against drugs and other crime. So far, El Salvador and Guatemala have put up more highway checkpoints to keep a closer eye on traffic through the two countries.

Wilfredo Rosales, El Salvador's immigration director, said a new common database tracks the movements of people across the streamlined border posts. Random police checkpoints also help.

For criminals, ''It was easy to cross before, but now it's not," he said. ''So I see it as much better."

Erick Frot, a 38-year-old architect visiting the Immigration office to get papers for his Brazilian wife, said freer movement would bring more development.

''Countries like ours need to open, not close," he said.