Monsignor Vicenzo Turturro, Apostolic Nuncio, Mr. Mayor of the city of Asunción Ruiz Bello, high national authorities, special guests, ladies and gentlemen, we begin the initial rites of blessing by the Archbishop of Asunción, Cardinal Abalberto Martínez Flores. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And with your spirit. Full of joy we have gathered here, dear brothers and sisters, to bless an image of the Blessed Virgin. This effigy with the title of Our Lady of the Assumption will be a sign of how great and profound is the relationship of the Blessed Virgin with Christ and his Church. Saint Mary is the mother of Christ, visible image of the invisible God and she herself is the image, figure and model of the Church, an image in which the Church joyfully contemplates what she in her entirety hopes for. figure in which she recognizes the norm to reach full union with Christ, model on which the bride of Christ relies to fulfill her apostolic mission. Thus, the initial blessing rite was led by the Archbishop of Asunción , Cardinal Alberto Martínez Flores. You may now take a seat, please. The words of the mayor of the city of Asunción, Mr. Luis Reyo López. Good afternoon, Mr. President of the Republic, to your wife, to Cardinal Alberto Martínez, to the national and municipal authorities, to Roque Ardizone, to my wife Laura, and to everyone present. Today we come to encounter part of our history, part of our faith, part of our identity, and that which has accompanied the destiny of our city for centuries, Our Lady of the Assumption. Asunción is named after her. Since that August 15, 1537, our city was born under its protection and grew looking to the sky, but also looking straight at its history, a history made of sacrifices, struggles, hope, of men and women who gave everything for this land. Today we are not simply inaugurating a monument. Today we are leaving a symbol of our faith, our history, and our identity. We want anyone who passes by to be able to stop, contemplate it, and offer a prayer. We want our children to be able to ask us who she is up there, and for us to be able to tell them our story, to tell them that she is Our Lady of the Assumption, the Virgin who gave our city its name, the Virgin who is part of our history, the Virgin who is part of our identity, the Virgin who has accompanied the faith of the Paraguayan people throughout the centuries. Today we inaugurate this monument looking to the future, but with our hearts rooted in our history, and we want to place under its protection our city, our families, our children, our workers, every neighbor who gets up every day and fights to get ahead, and also those of us who have the enormous responsibility of serving this city, that it may give us wisdom, strength and humility to live up to Asunción. May this moment remain for future generations as a symbol of our faith, our history, and above all, our hope. Because from today Our Lady of the Assumption watches over us from on high as the patron saint of Asunción, the patron saint of Paraguay and the marshal of our nation's armed forces. May his image, erected here in the city that bears his name, be a beacon of faith and hope, and may it illuminate all of Paraguay from Asunción and remind us who we are, where we come from, and the faith that unites us. Long live Our Lady of the Assumption, long live Paraguay! Thank you so much. [applause] These were the words of the mayor of the city of Asunción, Mr. Luis Bello López. Next, ladies and gentlemen, the words of His Excellency the President of the Republic and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Nation, Santiago Peña Palacios. Your Eminence, Cardinal Alberto Martínez, Your Excellency, Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Vincenzo Turturro. Dear guests, dear friends, it is with immense pleasure that I join you this afternoon for the blessing of the image of Our Lady of the Assumption in front of the López Palace. From today, his image over our bay will be a symbol of his perpetual presence and his constant support of our people. The role of the Virgin Mary has always been that of a mother who takes care of her children. She witnessed the birth of the nation on August 15, 1537, when the expedition of Juan de Salazar y Espinoza landed in this bay and sealed the peace with the Carios. From that day forward, our beloved capital, mother of cities, bears the name of the Virgin of the Assumption, and every August 15th she renews her maternal protection to our nation. She accompanies every stage of Paraguay's journey. He was present in the efforts for the evangelization of our native peoples. He inspired waves of missionaries who came to bring the message of redemption. It is said that Saint Roque González de Santa Cruz, our Paraguayan saint and martyr , called her the conqueror, because in his evangelizing mission she was the one who conquered people's hearts. The Virgin Mary also accompanied us when choosing the colors of our flag. On August 15, 1812, the first Paraguayan flag was raised with the colors red, white, and blue. She wanted to walk with the people in the War of the Triple Alliance. In 1863, thanks to Marshal Francisco Solano López, the construction of the oratory of Our Lady of the Assumption began. The war prevented the works from being completed. And it was only in 1936, after the Chaco War, that we were able to inaugurate it. During the years of the Chaco War. Many compatriots came to that oratory to entrust their lives to the Virgin of the Assumption before departing from the capital port towards the Battle Front. Our Lady of the Assumption, patron saint of the Republic and the Armed Forces and marshal of the army, continues to walk with us today on our journey as a nation and accompanies us in the vicissitudes of our history towards the fullness of the Paraguayan people. I am aware that it is a gift and a sign of predilection to be able to attend today, during my presidential term, the blessing of her image and to leave it recorded in the historical records that the López Palace and those who occupy this house in the future will have the serene and maternal presence of Our Lady in this beautiful image. I ask for special prayers of thanksgiving to God because tomorrow marks 3 years since I took office as president, and also for prayers to continue making wise decisions for the benefit of all Paraguayans in the two years I have left. Long live Our Lady of the Assumption and long live Paraguay! Thank you so much. [applause] The words of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Paraguay and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Nation, Santiago Peña Palacios. Ceremony of blessing of the image of Our Lady of the Assumption, Patron Saint of Paraguay and Marshal of the Paraguayan Army. You may take a seat, please. Thank you so much. Next, the proclamation of the word of God. We stand up. We stand up. [clearing throat] Proclamation of the holy gospel according to Saint Luke. Glory to you, Lord. Elizabeth exclaimed to you, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy . And blessed is she who believed, for what was spoken to her by the Lord will be fulfilled.” Mary said to him, “ My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his humble servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me. His holy name and his mercy are from generation to generation on those who fear him.” The Gospel of the Lord. Glory to you, Lord. You may be seated. Dear brothers and sisters, the Gospel we have heard tells of Mary visiting her cousin, and upon hearing her greeting, Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaims, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Mary responds with her song of praise: “ My soul glorifies ....” Savior. Today we gather here to bless this beautiful work of art dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption. This image is cast in bronze and placed upon this pedestal. It stands as a visible sign of the faith and love of the Paraguayan people for the Mother of God. Here in our bay, this image represents Mary Most Holy, a foundational presence in our history and in our nation, accompanying the journey of the Paraguayan people since its origins . As we contemplate it, our gaze does not linger solely on its artistic beauty, but rises to Mary Most Holy, the woman of faith, the one full of grace, who embraced the word of God and placed herself entirely at His service. Mary Most Holy was assumed into heaven body and soul, and from there she accompanies us with the tenderness of her love and covers us with her protective mantle. She is the protector and spiritual founder of this great nation. As we mentioned 75 years ago, in 1951, Our Lady of the Assumption was proclaimed patron saint of Paraguay and marshal of the nation's armed forces . That is what the staff of office carries, which in her hands represents not power or dominion, but service, care, and protection, as befits the Holy Virgin. The 17 stars of her crown symbolize the 17 departments of Paraguay, while her maternal love also extends to all Paraguayans living abroad. She is the patron saint of all Paraguay and unites us within and outside the homeland, crowning us as one family. We have always sung this in the hymn to Our Lady of the Assumption: Hail, Lady of the Assumption, glorious founder of our great nation of Paraguay, and may your chaste heart be blessed. This song, passed down from generation to generation, expresses the faith and love of the Paraguayan people for the Virgin. This image— and I believe the sculptor can explain this better—took shape through various materials. First in clay, then in resin and wax, until finally being cast in bronze. This process of creation reminds us that we too have been molded by the hands of God. Humankind is the culmination of creation, created by God. Image and likeness of God. The book of Genesis tells us, "The Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." The same image appears in the prophets. Isaiah proclaims, "We are the clay, and you are our potter. "We are all the work of your hands." And through Jeremiah, the Lord tells us, "As the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in my hands." The Blessed Virgin Mary offered her entire humanity to receive the presence of the Most High God. She allowed herself to be fully molded by God's grace and will . With her response, "Let it be done to me according to your word," she opened her heart and her whole life to the divine plan. In her womb, the eternal Word took on our flesh, and in her heart found an eternal dwelling place of faith, humility, and love. We too need to allow ourselves to be molded by God and by his will in daily life, in our families, at work, in service to others, in building the common good. Even when we pass through the fire of trials, the Lord does not abandon us. He can transform our fragility and make our lives a work of love, hope, and service. In expressing our gratitude for having fulfilled the desire to place the image of Our Lady of the Assumption in this privileged location in our bay , we especially thank the president for his unconditional support. From the Republic of Paraguay, Santiago Peña Palacios, to his wife, the First Lady of the Nation, Leticio Campos, to the Mayor of the City of Asunción, Luis Bello López, and to the City Council members, who contributed to the realization of this work. We especially thank the sculptor Ingrid Seal, a great artist and creator of this beautiful image, who with extraordinary sensitivity, talent, and dedication captured in bronze the beauty, tenderness, and dignity of Our Lady of the Assumption. We also thank engineer Roque Ardizones, responsible for the pedestal—a beautiful pedestal—and a great driving force behind this dream, for having dedicated his enthusiasm and perseverance to this project. Our gratitude extends to Mrs. Analía Dumot, to the institutions and companies that collaborated, to the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción company, which brought this cultural treasure from Belizonte, Brazil, to all the faithful benefactors, and to all the people who generously contributed to the The creation and installation of this work in this location. Finally, we express our special gratitude to Father Erwin Soto, who worked tirelessly and undertook numerous efforts for over a year to make the dream of having this image on the riverfront a reality. Today, on the eve of the Solemnity of Our Lady of the Assumption, what more beautiful crown can we offer Mary than that of her sons and daughters, living united in harmony, fraternity, and commitment to the common good? May this image remain among us as a sign of Mary's maternal presence, and may Our Lady of the Assumption protect our city and all of Paraguay, accompany our families, comfort those who suffer, and teach us to open our hearts to God so that Christ may also be reflected in us. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Blessing ceremony of the monument to Our Lady of the Assumption, Patroness of Paraguay and Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Nation. A very special moment, the floral offering. We will now invite the President of the Republic, the Cardinal, the Mayor, and the Apostolic Nuncio, please. The President of the Republic and the Mayor will lay the wreath with the colors of the Paraguayan flag: red, white, and blue, in homage to the Holy Patroness of Paraguay and Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Nation. [music] Accompanied by the band of the Heralds of the Gospel. [music] [music] [music] José Asunción Flores Avenue. Postwoman of Asunción, Holy Patroness of Paraguay and Marshal of the Paraguayan Army. Following this, the wreath of flowers with the colors of the Holy See. [music] Please come forward. [music] Accompanying this offering from the Cardinal Adalberto Martínez Flores [music] and His Excellency Monsignor Venzo Turturro, Apostolic Nuncio. [music] Accompanied by the band of the Heralds of the Gospel. [music] [music] We now invite the President of the Republic, [music] His Excellency the Cardinal, and the Mayor to unveil the plaque that commemorates this very special moment [music], the blessing of the monument to Our Lady of the Assumption [music] on the riverfront of this capital city. [music] [ music] [music] The plaque commemorates this very special moment [music] for the Patron Saint. Let's give a big round of applause, ladies and gentlemen. In this way [music] this plaque has been unveiled, bearing witness to this very special event. [music] [music] The musical accompaniment is provided by the Heralds of the Gospel. [music] [music] Please be seated. Thank you very much. [music] [Music] [Music] [Music] The flyover by the Paraguayan Air Force, in honor of the Marshal of the nation's armed forces. We stand. Let us raise our prayers to the Savior who willed to be born of the Virgin Mary and ask Him that Your Mother, Lord, intercede for us. May Your Mother, Lord, intercede for us. Savior of the world, who by the power of Your redemption preserved Your Mother from all stain of sin, deliver us from all guilt, may Your Mother, Lord, intercede for us. Our Redeemer, who made the Virgin Mary the place of Your presence and the tabernacle of the Holy Spirit, make us also a temple in which Your Spirit always dwells. May Your Mother, Lord, intercede for us. Our Priest, who willed that Your Mother should stand by Your cross, through her intercession, grant us to share joyfully in Your sufferings. May Your Mother, Lord, intercede for us. King of kings, who You took your mother to heaven, body and soul . Grant that we may always seek and aspire to the things of heaven. May your mother, Lord, intercede for us. Lord of heaven and earth, who have placed Mary, Queen, at your right hand. Grant us one day the joy of sharing in your glory. May your mother, Lord, intercede for us. The Archbishop then gives his blessing . We ask the Lord for his blessing. God, who in the Blessed Virgin Mary have given to your Church, which journeys in this world, an image of the future glory to which it hopes to attain, so that your faithful may confidently lift their eyes to her, and may she shine forth as a model of virtue for all your chosen people. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] [music] God, who in his loving providence willed to save humankind through the blessed fruit of the womb of the May the Virgin Mary shower you with her blessings. Amen. May the protection of the Virgin, through whom you received the author of life, always accompany you. Amen. And to all of you gathered here in devotion, may the Lord grant you the joy of the Spirit and the blessings of his kingdom. And may the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, descend upon you. Amen. Now, ladies and gentlemen, after the final blessing, the hymn to Our Lady of the Assumption. On page 8 of the booklet you have with you, you will find this song to accompany this very special day of inauguration, of the blessing of this image, Our Lady of the Assumption, Patroness of Paraguay and Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Nation. [music] [music] I want to sing with heavenly [song] harmony [music] your charity, your love, Mother of God, will cease a thousand times night and day. [song] [music] to celebrate your angelic beauty. Hail, Lady of the Assumption, glorious foundress [music] [song] of our great nation [song] to Paraguay and bless your chaste heart. [song] From Paraguay, [song] [music] the fragrant friezes carry to you my [music] song of prayer. Mother of mercy, we are souls healed [song] with the blood and cross [music] of your redeeming son. Hail, [music] [song] Lady of the Assumption. Glorious foundress [song] of our great nation [song] to Paraguay [music] bless your house [song] your heart. Sad peace, adventurous dawn. [song] That through [music] greatness and freedom may come. Nimbus [song] of light, your glorious assumption for that of our Paraguay. [music] Hail, Lady of the Assumption, glorious, foundress [music] [Song] of our great [music] nation to Paraguay and bless your peace, your heart, [song] [music] the tradition, the Paraguayan history. The faithful queen acclaims you with truth. The [song] blesses your victory, [music] the forest and flower perfume your throne. [song] [music] Hail, Lady of the Assumption, glorious, founder of our [music] great nation. to Paraguay and blessed [music] your house, your heart. [song] Long live Our Lady of the Assumption. Long live Paraguay. Long live. We invite the President of the Republic, the First Lady, the Bishop, the Apostolic Nuncio, the Mayor, the original sculptor, Engineer Roque Arizone, and Mrs. Analía Dumot, please, for an official photograph of this very special moment of blessing and the image of Our Lady of the Assumption, Patroness of Paraguay and Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Nation. Avenue José Asunción Flores, Costanera of Asunción. Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., the military and police parade will take place on this same avenue in commemoration of the 489th anniversary of the founding of this capital city. With a round of applause, ladies and gentlemen, we bring to a close this very special moment of blessing the image of Our Lady of the Assumption, Patron Saint of Paraguay and Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Nation. Well, in this way, the official inauguration of the monument to Our Lady of the Assumption has begun, on this eve of what will also be the celebration of the founding of Asunción, another anniversary, 489 years since the founding of Asunción. The President of the Republic presided over this solemn inauguration of this truly imposing monument made by the Paraguayan [music] Ingrid Seal. In this way, then, the inauguration has now taken place. Greetings from the authorities also present [music], several of them from the executive branch, the Mayor of Asunción, we're also approaching briefly [music] here little by little to see if we can get some statements [music] from the President. Let's see, here we're approaching the Apostolic Nuncio, Mr. Vincenzo Turturro, [music] Mr. President. Briefly, Mr. President, the Apostolic Nuncio also greets you by conversation. [music] Mr. President, a very special afternoon on the eve of the 489th [music] anniversary of Asunción with this imposing monument that honors the Virgin of the Assumption. I'm truly moved, moved to be able to participate. A week ago we gave the opening remarks, and it's truly a wonderful effort by, of course, our Catholic Church, the Nunciature which also collaborated, and the private sector, which has made a tremendous effort, from the designer, the artist Ingrid Seal, to the Lacerí company, and the businessman Roca Ardizone—a tremendous effort. Our Asunción company brought culture from Brazil, and I'm truly very moved. Well, I'm happy that Our Lady of the Assumption is here watching over us, protecting us, and guiding us, which is the most important thing for all Paraguayans. The Catholic Church also celebrated this meeting you had today with the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference to continue discussing actions, especially for the most vulnerable sector of our country. It was truly a meeting to listen to one another, where we had the opportunity to hear from the Episcopal Conference, to listen to the bishops, who are often the recipients of the public's cries. So, it was a beautiful day, nearly three hours of a meeting where we were able to listen very carefully. We also had the opportunity to share, from the government's perspective, the actions we are carrying out. And well, as we reach the three-year mark of this administration, we look ahead with enormous optimism. We know that we still have a long way to go, but we remain fully convinced that we can do much more. Public health is an outstanding debt, Mr. President. Public health is an outstanding debt. Also, there is a doctors' strike looming. Today... We were able to resolve the impasse, Mr. President. No, there were no representatives from the Ministry of Economy at that tripartite meeting. Well, we will continue working. In the three years we have been in office, there have been substantial improvements; we have reduced working hours, which was a very important demand from the sector. And well, we will try to continue trying to meet absolutely all the genuine demands. We recognize that there is a lack of infrastructure, which is why we are undertaking the construction of large hospitals and the improvement of medical care. We recognize the demands and are working hard to meet each and every one of them . Thank you very much, everyone. I hope to see you all tomorrow for the parade. See you then. Well, these are the words of the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, at this grand inauguration of the monument to the Virgin of the Assumption, patron saint of Paraguay and also of the Paraguayan Army. We will also approach some other authorities who are present here to talk with them. Let's see if we can approach them. Also here is the The Minister of Public Works and Communications, for example . Let's see if we can approach the Minister for a moment. Let's continue moving forward here so we can talk. Minister Enrique Riera, also from the Interior, is here . Let's approach him. It's an operation led by SENAT. [music] I believe Minister Jalil can give you more details , but at this moment, they are confirming the identities of those killed and some other evidence . And the recommendation in these cases is always not to confirm identities until there is real verification through scientific methods, but everything indicates that they may be part of his gang. In fact, massive raids were carried out yesterday, as if all of this was moving, the infrastructure as well. Yes, you know, and if you know the area— I think many of you have traveled throughout Paraguay—it's a complicated territory because it consists of large spaces with isolated houses, so the element of surprise is very difficult. I think it was even chosen on purpose, right? Because when there's forest, the strategy is different. Secondly, I want to tell you that as It's a planting area, and I'm speaking as a family rancher, you know, there's no fencing, no gates , no barriers, no locks. The roads aren't those narrow paths we use because the cattle use them. And the fields, since they use high-value harvesters, need to be impeccable and wide. This allows you to cross from Cahuazú to Casapá to Canindyú without going out onto the local roads. They remain private property. We can only enter with a court order, and that often facilitates escape and complicates our pursuit. The slain are Indigenous leaders, Minister. No, preliminarily I would venture to say yes, because apparently one of the surnames is linked. You'll remember Derlis López, that peasant leader who was used by organized crime—I don't want to generalize, nor do I want to stigmatize— but we found him with a Fortuner SUV, which any of us knows costs more than... $100,000, right? So, uh, once the data is confirmed, the good thing here is that there are a lot of raids happening in quick succession. I mean, let me give you a quick rundown, shall I? Jorge Mescado is in jail, uh, Elvio Benítez is under ankle monitor, he was under surveillance at the time, he was a major social agitator, and Delis López was also arrested, and so was Rubén Villalva. You'll remember the one who shot Commissioner Lovera in the head , General Lovera's brother, who works with the President of the Republic, right? They're all being arrested. Today there was another operation, you might recall an earlier operation called Ignis, there were nine dead, so there aren't really three here , right? It's nothing new to you. Every day there's an event, and one important detail: there's a very large property of 20,000 hectares there known as La Americana, which had legal disputes between private parties for more than 20 years, but It prevented military or police forces from entering because the owners wouldn't allow it while they argued about who owned the property. At the end of last year, uh [music], it seemed the case was becoming clearer. That allowed, with police accompaniment, the recovery of the main house of the ranch after 20 years, where our friend Acosta had once lived. And from then on, we began to have a little more control in the area, in those internal movements I explained to you, right? So, I think that with this fight [music], uh, we have to be patient; it doesn't happen overnight. They have heavy weaponry, they have technology, they have money, they corrupt authorities, uh, and well, and obviously they produce unexpected attacks like the one in Naranjito, which still hurts us. How do you coordinate with the police, Minister? Because police officers from the area went to the scene and encountered people from SENAT and COVID. Well, in general terms, we have what we call the security team that works It's coordinated, and let's say we use what each of us does best. For example, in Almir's kidnapping, who thankfully returned alive, [music] there was a combined effort between police and military forces. That is, the military were the ones who patrolled the edges of or penetrated the jungle. I mean, CODI and intelligence worked together, the DAS and the Bimi, and the police guarded the secondary roads and manned checkpoints. So, I'd say we divide up the tasks. It's like if you were in your house and one person is a carpenter and another is a plumber. They don't know about this operation in the area. Is that normal, Minister? In many cases, it's used, right? The fear is always a leak. And I'm not just talking about corruption, I'm talking about fear. [music] When a person lives in a place like this, it can happen that their loved ones pay the price for a leak, for some problem. So, we use prosecutors from Asunción, judges from Asunción, and also officers from Assumptions, but they are, I repeat, strategies created in response to the threat. People often say this blah blah blah, they say a lot of things, but they do nothing. But I remind them that every six months the U.S. State Department—not us, right? —certifies whether our country is safe or not for tourists and investors. The chief of staff said to me , "Didn't you see the latest certification?" I said, "No, probably not." The entity is not going anywhere. Nobody believes us, but the truth is that we are the only ones in Argentina and Paraguay with class one status for American citizens, and they recommend we travel to any country when it is unsafe. Therefore, we believe there is still a long way to go , but our numbers are reasonable. Thank you. Words from the Minister of the Interior, Enrique Rera. The police commander, Commissioner César Silguero, is also here. Let's also briefly approach the commander. We presume that at this moment we have to make the choice. These are assumptions that will surely be confirmed through identity [music] . Well, the commander is talking too. Okay, with the Minister of the Interior, [music] Commander, Minister, we're completing 3 years of government, great efforts are being made in terms of security, but there's still a long way to go. [music] Indeed, as the minister was mentioning, the numbers [music] are cold, but they are objective, and in that sense I believe that Paraguay is among the best in Latin America in terms of security. [music] However, we know that there are many pending tasks and we are [music] dedicated to them in order to be able to solve especially what has to do with the Canendiu issue, for example, which is an issue that the president, the minister [music] has entrusted to us specifically to be able to carry out complex, of course, difficult investigations, as we did last time. We know that we wo n't always have the success we expect. [music] However, the persistence of the researchers and the quiet work of our people will ensure that at some point we will reach the most important goals. There are also very important agreements signed with the United States , Minister, regarding security efforts in our country, and these are being implemented little by little here as well. Yes, the truth is that I arrived at 5 in the morning from Panama and I am truly impressed by the willingness that exists from the United States and the Southern Command to wage a frontal fight against the cartels. But at the Latin American level there were 28 countries sitting with their security ministers, their military commanders and their defense ministers. The United States Secretary of War , Peter Henshot, was present. The head of the Southern Command, General Donovan, was present. But not present to give a speech. That's what caught my attention. We were stuck in a hotel for 24 hours, looking at maps, looking at numbers, looking at data, identifying routes, identifying the cartels of all the countries. I'm referring to Mexicans, Colombians, Ecuadorians, the PCC, the Comando Vermello, everyone. A truly impressive X-ray, and the tasks were broadly divided into four zones, right? One zone refers to the Atlantic going north, another zone goes via the Pacific, another zone operates in Central America and those countries that are small, often unknown to us, and one that has to do with the southern channel, which is us; if we enter there are seven countries, I'm referring to Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile and Peru, and a subregional meeting will be held, yes, it's confirmed, where Paraguay will be the center of operations because we are an hour and a half from all the capitals, from Brasilia, from Santiago, from Montevideo, from Buenos Aires, from Santa Cruz. And that's why Paraguay was accepted. The other country is Ecuador for the Pacific zone and Colombia for the central zone. The Atlantic region and Central America were left pending, but it was truly an impressive meeting, a joint commitment [music] and we will use exchange, information, technology, the latest generation and everything necessary, because organized crime is considered the biggest threat to our democracies in the region. The Shield of the Americas, precisely the shield of the Americas that Paraguay recently signed with the United States. It is precisely intended to make these efforts to combat organized crime. Indeed, and the president, if my memory serves me right, has another summit in Ecuador in the short term, where the presidents meet and validate everything we do, we who are, let's say, at lower levels. And this is a specific issue, this is a fight against the cartels. Well, thank you very much, Minister of the Interior, Enrique Riera, also here then, in this way, I'm also giving a summary about the work that the government is carrying out in terms of security and combating organized crime, the commander speaks again . But let's also see if we can talk to other authorities who are still around here. Well, most of them have already left, I do n't know if the mayor is still here . Let's take a look this way. Well, the mayor of Asunción, Luis Bello, has also retired. Most of the authorities have already withdrawn. Well, in this way then this extremely important event unfolded , the official inauguration of the monument to the Virgin of the Assumption, here with this imposing monument that from today onwards will protect the bay of Asunción on the northern waterfront, in the area behind the government palace. An invitation is also extended to all citizens, of course, to come and see this great monument made of bronze by Paraguayan brothers and sisters, Paraguayan artists who were involved in this great work, which has been in the works for some time and is now a reality here in the bay of Asunción, on the eve of such an important celebration. such as the founding of Asunción. The capital of Paraguay, the mother of cities, will be celebrating its 489th anniversary tomorrow. What better way to celebrate the inauguration of this imposing monument? And as they also explained some extremely important details [music] that this monument has, for example, has to do with the crown that the Virgin of the Assumption wears, whose 17 stars represent the 17 departments of the country, because generally the crowns of the saints have 12 stars, but in this case 17 stars were added to represent the 17 departments of the country and from here, from the bay of Asunción, the Virgin will be blessing all of Paraguay. Well, in this way we'll end this contact and see you next time. The architect [music] [music]