[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 118 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                            MORNING BUSINESS

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent there be a 
period for morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein 
for up to 5 minutes each.
  The PRESIDING OFFICE. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                         THE MEXICAN ELECTIONS

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today to mark the importance of 
the United States' close relationship with our southern neighbor, 
Mexico, which will soon hold simultaneous elections for President, the 
Chamber of Deputies, three-fourths of the Senate, and numerous 
governors. Continued stability coupled with democracy in Mexico are of 
particular significance to the success of that relationship.
  The last decade saw rapid growth in the trade relationship between 
the United States and Mexico and an even faster growing interdependence 
of our countries. Mexico is now the United States' third largest export 
market and our third highest import source. Similarly, the United 
States is Mexico's largest export market and its largest import source. 
Mexico's liberalization of its economy and entry into the General 
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade have helped to spur the growth of its 
own economy. The combination of these elements has served to increase 
further the significance of the ties between our countries. This trade 
relationship is particularly important to the State of California.
  With the entry into force of North American Free Trade Agreement at 
the beginning of 1994, the relationship between the United States and 
Mexico entered a new phase. All parties to the agreement--the United 
States, Canada, and Mexico--had high hopes for free trade that would 
bring benefits to each. Mexico hoped to further develop and modernize 
its economy with the help of expected investment that would result. 
Unfortunately, Mexico has suffered a few unexpected setbacks, beginning 
with the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas on January 1.
  The uprising was a disturbing reminder to the United States that 
there are issues that remained unresolved between the Mexican 
Government and the indigenous Mayan population, which constitutes 30 
percent of Mexico's total population. The guerrilla group--called the 
Zapatistas--said that they represented the Mayans and put forward 
claims of discrimination and human rights abuses. The Mexican 
Government first attempted to use military force to put down the 
revolt, but to its credit, it changed to a policy of reconciliation. 
Despite the uneven progress made so far, the policy continues to be 
pursued. The Zapatistas should also be commended for their pledge not 
to resume combat or to disrupt the upcoming elections.
  It was in connection with those elections that Mexico suffered 
another blow: The assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio, the 
Presidential candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. The 
United States was saddened by this event, but we were also confident in 
Mexico's ability to recover and hold elections without further 
incident.
  In this context, Mexico has shown itself to be sensitive to concerns 
of the international community that elections be free and fair. In 
addition to the adopting electoral reforms, the Mexican Government has 
invited the participation of thousands of foreigners as electoral 
visitors. My colleague, Senator John McCain, hopes to head one such 
delegation. Although they will not participate at the level of election 
monitoring that is usually performed by the United Nations and 
Organization of American States, I am optimistic that the presence of 
these election visitors will increase public confidence in the results 
of the elections and reduce the possibility for postelection violence.
  Nevertheless, I remain concerned about reports of preparations for 
protests after the vote. Calls for postelection protest from the 
opposition and reports of Government imports and stockpiling of riot-
control gear, including heavy equipment, cannot help but add to an 
atmosphere of tension.
  I feel certain that all the American people join me in the hope that 
Mexico's August 21, elections take place in an atmosphere of calm that 
will contribute the Mexican people's confidence and to a resolution of 
remaining concerns. Elections that are conducted in a free and fair 
manner and that stand up to the scrutiny of both Mexican and 
international observers will contribute to the close relationship 
between our two countries and help to guarantee its future. California, 
which traditionally has had particularly close ties to Mexico, looks 
forward to a process that will bolster those ties and yield benefits 
both for us and for our southern neighbor.

                          ____________________