Speeches

Remarks by Ambassador Cesar Cabrera at the Graduation Ceremony of the U.S. Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) Training Seminar

Friday, December 8, 2006
Diamond Hall, Mobile Wing (SMF), Vacoas

Senior Chief Executive Mudho

Deputy Solicitor General Baukaurallee

Deputy Police Commissioner Rampersad

Director National Security Service Jokhoo

Commanding Officer of the Special Mobile Force Servansingh

Commandant of the National Coast Guard Negi

DIILS Instructors

Participants and guests

On behalf of the U.S. Embassy, it gives me great pleasure to be here today for the graduation ceremony of the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies training seminar.

First, I would like to thank the Office of the Prime Minister and the Police Headquarters for their support of DIILS.  In particular, I would like to recognize the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Commanding Officer of the Special Mobile Force, and the Police Commissioner.  I would also like to thank the Special Mobile Force for providing the facilities for this week’s training.  
 
This year, the U.S. Embassy, through its International Military Education Training Program, also known as “IMET”, has awarded grants totaling four point eight million Rupees (Rs 4.8 million) for Mauritian military training.  This week’s seminar is only one example of the diverse training conducted through IMET.  Since 1996, IMET has trained over 50 Mauritian National Police officers in the United States and over 400 individuals during in-country sessions in Mauritius.

The goals of IMET are to further regional stability through effective, mutually beneficial military-to-military relations, and to increase the ability of foreign national military and civil personnel to develop and maintain basic democratic values and protect internationally recognized human rights.

This week's course represents a tailor-made program created specifically to address the individual needs of Mauritius.  The focus of the DIILS program completed this week was Peacekeeping Operations in Accordance with the Rule of Law.  To those of you who attended the program, you are now graduates in peacekeeping and are more aware of the role you and your organizations can play in international peacekeeping operations.

You have the tools to keep Mauritius safe in our uncertain world. These same tools could also help keep vulnerable people around the world safe and secure.  Mauritians have distinguished themselves in peacekeeping operations in Haiti, Sudan, and Bosnia.  I hope Mauritius will increase its participation in such important efforts.  I expect that what you have learned this week would serve you well in such circumstances.

Congratulations on completing this training seminar.  I am confident that your newly acquired expertise will help you enhance the peacekeeping efforts of Mauritius.  In turn, the productive exchanges between yourselves and the four American trainers also enriched their experience and provided new insights for them to take back to the United States.

I look forward to the continued cooperation with the Government of Mauritius for future IMET programs.  Thank you.