Posted on 03/22/2002 8:35:22 PM PST by mykdsmom
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) -- Standing side by side with Mexican President Vicente Fox, President Bush sought Friday to strengthen ties with a neighbor that has felt neglected in the United States' post-Sept. 11 focus on terrorism.
Bush saluted Mexico's battle against drug kingpins and said he is determined to work out an immigration agreement that gives special treatment to Mexicans in the United States.
"Mexico is different from other countries, not only because of our proximity, but because of our special relationship," Bush said at a joint news conference closing his talks with Fox at Monterrey's Governmental Palace.
The Mexican government is seeking amnesty for some 3 million Mexicans living and working in the United States illegally. The Bush administration is aiming to craft a more limited "guest worker"-type program and a system making it easier for undocumented immigrants from Mexico to apply for legal status.
Bush said he seeks a policy that recognizes "the unique nature of the Mexican in our country ... and that we do have a special relationship between our countries, not only defined by NAFTA, but defined by cultural and historic ties."
Fox, in a low-key statement, did not mention the ongoing staff-level talks on migration reforms. Instead, the Mexican president spoke of joining forces with Bush to try to attract business investment into the poorest communities of Mexico that have the highest migratory rates.
"The specific purpose is to generate opportunities for advancement, opportunities for income," for Mexicans at home, Fox said.
Over dinner at Monterrey's museum of modern art, Fox was more warmly effusive and toasted the United States' resilience after the Sept. 11 attacks.
"The attacks tore down the twin towers, but they were not able to make a dent in the spirit of the United States," Fox said.
On immigration issues, Fox said that he and Bush "have found an honest language which is also affectionate and respectful."
The two presidents spoke at the news conference after a U.N. conference on global poverty.
In response to a question, Bush defended his refusal to release a scheduled $34 million U.S. contribution to the U.N. Population Fund, which conducts family planning, HIV prevention and maternal health programs internationally. Conservative opponents of the fund contend that its programs in China are involved in forced abortions -- a contention its supporters hotly dispute.
"I said we're not going to use taxpayers' money to fund abortion and I"m going to make sure we're not using taxpayers' money to fund abortion," Bush said.
Told of Bush's comment, the organization's information officer, Abubakar Dungus, said the fund, "by policy, is prohibited from promoting or supporting abortion."
This was a return presidential visit for Bush who, after his inauguration last year, made Mexico his first international visit and declared the Western Hemisphere his top foreign-policy priority.
But the unusually close ties between the Bush and Fox administrations seemed to fade after the Sept. 11 attacks. Mexico was somewhat hesitant at first to fully back Washington's war on terrorism, partly because of its policy of non-intervention. Mexico's hopes for changes in U.S. immigration laws to allow more Mexicans to legally work and live in the United States were put on hold as the White House and Congress turned their focus to counterterrorism and border security.
On other topics that Bush addressed in the palace's open-air patio of pink stone:
--He continued to hold out the hope that Vice President Dick Cheney would meet with Yasser Arafat "if and when" the Palestinian leader cracks down on terrorist attacks against Israel.
Bush said a meeting "could happen," but said it was up to Arafat to comply with conditions outlined by Secretary of State Colin Powell and Mideast envoy Anthony Zinni.
The escalation of violence in the Middle East has complicated Bush's efforts to build a coalition against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, whom Bush views as a threat to the United States.
--Bush declined to say how he will deal with Saddam but said any U.S. action would be deliberate and well-planned. "We'll deal with Saddam Hussein and he knows that," Bush said.
--Bush denounced Cuban President Fidel Castro and dismissed suggestions that the communist leader was pressured by the United States to leave the international meeting before his arrival.
The president said there was "no pressure on anybody. Fidel Castro can do what he wants to do. What I'm worried about is how he treats his people," he said.
Bush, who continues on to Peru on Saturday, said the United States has not decided whether it will resume drug surveillance flights over Peru, suspended since a plane carrying American missionaries' plane was mistakenly shot down last year after a CIA-hired crew identified it as a possible drug flight.
"We're analyzing not only what took place in the past, but the most effective way help Peru fight narcotics," he said.
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I know these are not scientific POLLS but check them our anyway. I think they reflect the views of the vast majority of Americans.
As far as impeachment - it probably won't fly but we need to stop Bush on this amnesty insanity somehow.
In the 'old' days only the Democrats ignored that Document (as Rush puts it..."the only thing standing in the way of Tyranny..")......
...but,sadly..very sadly, the Republicans have also started ignoring it too.
redrock--Constitutional Terrorist
redrock--Constitutional Terrorist
Those votes may never again go for him, they may in fact not go for anything that even resembles a republican. The formerly republican party is a dead issue.
Citizen Fox is the devil & Senor Bush has a problem. They can both go to that warm place-muy pronto!
Vincente, I had a little trouble with some whacko right wingers who tried to force congress not to vote for our plan to permantely rid Mexico of your untouchable class. I beat them like a dog. We made it look like a close vote..hehehe...We could have gotten almost all GOPers in congress to vote for our plan but we didn't need them. Now all I have to do is pay off Senator Byrd with a few trincits and the bill will become law. I know Senator Bryd. He can be bought.
It is all just "what's in it for ME? Will this close the border for our emigration?"
I don't believe America should continue to naively award this kind of national attitude.
They may wish to review some REPUBLIC of TEXAS battle flags, so they may better understand the deep sympathy & warm feelings some of us hold for that Land of Infinite Corruption, Drugs & Death:
Museum of Fine Art, Houston,Texas until April 28,02
Also an article on the FLAG exhibit at Texas Highways Magazine March 2002
I should imagine a review of the various flags employed in our last friendly encounter might be very instructive.
They also need to take note of the Goliad flag, not in the exhibit-it said something like
and for some reason it had an image of a cannon on it.
mexico-What's not to love in such a beatiful place, eh Senor?
"Hey Cisco, come over here & get a look at theese guy-Pancho thinks he ees loco!"
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