[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 156 (Tuesday, October 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WELCOME TO PRESIDENT ZEDILLO
(Mr. RICHARDSON asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, today the new President of Mexico,
Ernesto Zedillo, is in town meeting with our President and the
bipartisan congressional leadership. Mr. Speaker, Mexico is a good
friend, and it has had some tough times, and it is important that we
show support to the new government and the new President of Mexico.
Last week the President of Mexico paid back $700 million of Mexico's
debt ahead of schedule. As a good neighbor should, the United States
helped Mexico out of a severe financial crisis with a loan of $20
billion. Among our top priority goals in United States-Mexico relations
are to disrupt and defeat the narcotrafficking that so negatively
affects both of our countries and to build the American economy by
helping United States business do business with Mexico.
Mr. Speaker, it is important to welcome the new President of Mexico,
to say that we are friends, that we back each other, that we need each
other, that the problems of immigration and drugs and many
other foreign policy issues and our economic ties are strong and should
become stronger.
Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a letter to me from Ambassador
James R. Jones, as follows:
Embassy of the United States of America, Mexico,
October 3, 1995.
Hon. Bill Richardson,
U.S. House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Richardson: Bill, I have written many ``Dear
Colleague'' letters during my seven terms in Congress. This
is the first time I have written you as U.S. Ambassador to
Mexico. The occasion is the State Visit to Washington next
week of Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo. I want to give you
my assessment of our bilateral relationship and the status of
Mexico's economic and political condition and prospects for
the future.
Overall, U.S.-Mexico relations are the most mature,
positive and cooperative I have seen since first visiting
Mexico as a young White House Assistant nearly thirty years
ago.
Among our top priority goals here at the U.S. Embassy in
Mexico, two principal objectives are to disrupt and defeat
the narcotrafficking that so negatively affects both of our
countries and to build the American economy by helping U.S.
business do business with Mexico.
Mexico and the United States are cooperating more closely
and effectively than ever in the fight against domestic and
foreign drug cartels who hope to use Mexico as a shipping
point to America. President Zedillo has told me each time we
have met how seriously he views the threat of organized crime
to Mexico's sovereignty and its economic well-being. He has
ordered closer cooperation of Mexican law enforcement
agencies with ours and we are seeing results. A major
narcotics trafficker and several cartel lieutenants have been
arrested. Together with Mexican authorities we have developed
more effective measures to detect and intercept drug
shipments. So far this year, more than 400,000 metric tons of
cocaine, heroin, marijuana and dangerous drugs have been
seized in transit. We have a long way to go to stop the flow
of drugs to the United States, but we are moving in the right
direction.
Progress continues also in developing commercial
opportunities for U.S. business with Mexico in ways that
benefit both countries. The North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) is working. Last year, Mexico surpassed
Japan as our second largest trading partner before the
currency crisis hit in December causing Mexico's most severe
recession in decades. Today, even in the midst of this
economic crisis, U.S. exports to Mexico are seven percent
higher than before NAFTA took effect. And today our exports
to Mexico support more than 700,000 U.S. jobs.
In addition, the economic recovery program in Mexico is
also working. Absent a most unexpected event, I believe that
the macroeconomic recovery will begin by the end of this year
and recovery of the real economy by the middle of next year.
This is important to us for two reasons: first, Mexicans buy
overwhelmingly from the U.S. About 70 percent of their
imports come from us. When Mexican consumers increase their
purchasing power, it will expand our market opportunities
which enhance jobs in the U.S. Second, creating economic
opportunities in Mexico itself is without doubt the most
effective way to control illegal immigration. Therefore,
increasing commerce helps us both.
The Mexican Government has held steadfast to free market
economic reforms and sound fiscal and monetary policies. The
loan assistance package which the United States arranged to
help Mexico avoid a default which could have triggered a
global recession was not foreign aid. This loan has already
earned our government $479 million in interest and there are
indications that Mexico will be able to pay the principal
ahead of schedule.
Mexico is experiencing its greatest political, legal and
democratic reforms in history. Election law changes last year
have resulted in generally recognized fair elections and have
given strength to opposition political parties. The Mexican
Congress has gained vast new powers. The Supreme Court has
been reformed. Some critics have viewed these developments as
a sign of weakness in the Presidency and of potential
instability. I believe just the opposite. It takes more
strength to advance democracy than it does to retain
authoritarian rule. We strongly support these democratic
reforms and believe they improve stability in these difficult
times.
This is a period of dramatic transition in Mexico as well
as with our bilateral relations. The direction of this change
is very positive. The values being promoted in Mexico such as
a free market economy, open democratic systems, cleaning out
corruption and strengthening law enforcement are values we
share.
We also share a 2,000 mile border with this nation of 92
million people. We must make our relationship work to provide
new opportunities for both countries. I will welcome your
ideas.
Sincerely yours,
James R. Jones,
Ambassador.
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