GUATEMALA CITY, Jumada I 13, 1436, March 04, 2015, SPA -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday urged Central American leaders to redouble their efforts in fighting poverty and violence because it stands in the way of the region becoming “the next great success story.” Biden was on a two-day visit to Guatemala, where he met with President Otto Perez Molina, El Salvador President Sanchez Ceren, and Honduran leader Juan Orlando Hernandez. “There’s no reason why Central America cannot become the next great success story in the Western Hemisphere,” Biden said at a news conference. “You have to end once and for all the climate of endemic violence and poverty.” The Obama administration has asked Congress to approve $1 billion in funding for Central America to bolster security and stem illegal immigration into the United States from its southern neighbors. The funding would be used for programs to promote trade, border protection, and help create jobs. Biden said that the United States was committed to increasing this support. “In addition to the billion dollar request for Central America, we’re working with Congress to significantly increase our assistance to you in this region this year because we need to start showing results now,” the vice president said. --SPA 10:59 LOCAL TIME 07:59 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w