Presidents from Panama and Costa Rica, Juan Carlos Varela and Luis Guillermo Solís, respectively, agreed to hold a security meeting in October to address the humanitarian crisis that both countries are facing, due to the migration movement that has been taking place in Central America since last year.
The leaders decided to meet in Panama’s Chiriquí province, which borders Costa Rica.
They also agreed on the need to support the electoral process in Haiti, as well as to help the future government to solve the migration problem.
Cooperation between nations is more important now than ever,
said the official statement.
The passage of irregular migrants from Central America and countries like Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana and Colombia is a phenomenon that has grown, especially in recent months, and it has generated tensions in the countries of the region.
The crisis erupted in November 2015 when Nicaragua decided to close its borders due to national security. The measure was adopted months later by Costa Rica and Panama.
So far this year, Panamanian authorities have provided humanitarian assistance to near 9,000 irregular migrants who entered the country through Darien gap, natural border with Colombia.