Pubdate: Sat, 09 Oct 2010 Source: El Paso Times (TX) Copyright: 2010 El Paso Times Contact: http://www.elpasotimes.com/townhall/ci_14227323 Website: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/829 Authors: Adriana M. Chavez and Aileen B. Flores PRESIDENT FELIPE CALDERON TO VISIT JUAREZ NEXT WEEK Mexican President Felipe Calderon is expected to visit Juarez next week to reinforce his initiatives to revitalize the crime-plagued city. Exactly when he will be in Juarez is uncertain. Jaime Torres, a Juarez city spokesman, said Calderon will visit either Wednesday or Thursday to discuss the "Todos Somos Juarez," or We Are Juarez, initiative, with city and state officials. A spokeswoman for Calderon said that the president is planning to visit Juarez on Tuesday, but that his agenda wouldn't be confirmed until Monday. Torres said Friday he wasn't able to confirm the exact day of Calderon's visit. Calderon visited Juarez in March to discuss the initiative after the federal government sent 700 million pesos, or about $55 million, to Juarez for economic development as part of the campaign. Torres said the campaign deals with 117 "actions" aimed at developing more educational, cultural, health, safety and economic programs. Calderon will also visit with incoming Juarez Mayor Hector Murguia, who will be sworn into office Sunday, and look at any changes proposed by new Chihuahua Gov. Cesar Duarte. As the new governor and mayor take office, Torres said, "everything is going to change." Duarte said Calderon's visit is very important to review and establish new strategies to fight organize crime in the state. "Chihuahua's government open its arms to the federal government to plan in-depth alternatives and solutions to the security crisis in our state," Duarte said. Calderon may talk about the ongoing drug war in Juarez and propose changes to the city's police force, Torres said. Murguia has said Juarez, a city of 1.3 million, needs at least 7,000 police officers. The city now has 3,000. At the state level, Duarte said, the new Policia Unica, or One Police Force, will be trained by the Colombians. The single police force is a partnership between the Department of Public Safety and the Chihuahua attorney general, in order to avoid separation that fosters crime, and to restore people's confidence in government, Duarte said. Duarte said he was able to visit officials in Colombia and coordinate their assistance to help Chihuahua's new police. The Colombian police will share their experience in fighting organize crime. Anti-abduction, anti-extortion units and an intelligence unit will be created, he said. Duarte said officials are also looking forward to working with police agencies from the United States, Italy and Chile. The president's visit next week will be his fourth to Juarez this year. He visited Feb. 11, days after 15 young people were massacred at a birthday party. He returned six days later with a promise to send specially trained federal police to investigate kidnappings and extortions. His latest visit to Juarez coincided with the killings of two U.S. Consulate employees and an El Paso County jail detention officer. During each of his visits, Calderon was met by thousands of protesters frustrated with the growing violence, which has killed more than 6,400 people since 2008. Officials didn't confirm whe ther Calderon will attend Tuesday's soccer match between Mexico's national team and Venezuela's team at Benito Juarez Stadium in Juarez. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D