[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book II)]
[August 24, 2000]
[Pages 1698-1699]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Prior to Discussions With President-Elect Vicente Fox of Mexico and an Exchange With Reporters
August 24, 2000

    President Clinton. Let me just say very briefly what a great honor 
it is for me, personally, and for the United States, to have the 
President-elect of Mexico here. I have looked forward to this very much, 
for the chance to congratulate him on his election, and all the people 
of Mexico on a truly historic affirmation of genuine democracy in their 
country. I'm glad he's here, and I'm looking forward to getting to know 
him, hearing his ideas, and doing what I can to help him get off to a 
strong start in our partnership.
    President-elect Fox. Well, the same here. I'm very glad to be here, 
sharing a few minutes with President Clinton, the opportunity to know 
each other, the opportunity to tell him about this great day, July the 
2d in Mexico, and the opportunity to get to know experiences that you 
have lived in this 8 years in this excellent and growing relationship 
between Mexico and the United States, and also to thank you for all the 
support you gave to Mexico in difficult times.
    When we were in crisis, we also got and saw the hand of a friend. 
And so that's something that we recognize in Mexico and I personally 
recognize and thank you for in the name of all Mexicans.

Mexican Democracy

    Q. Is Mexico considered a democracy example to America Latina?
    President Clinton. Considered an example?
    Q. Yes, to America Latina?
    President Clinton. I think that what happened in Mexico is very 
impressive. I mean, we had a genuine, competitive, democratic election. 
And I think it's an example to people who are friends of freedom 
everywhere in the world.

Immigration Policy

    Q. President Clinton, excuse me--President-elect Fox has brought up 
a whole bunch of new ideas on the relationship between Mexico and the 
United States, including plans concerning the border immigration. Are 
you going to discuss these in full length?
    President Clinton. Well, I certainly hope so. I want to hear them. 
Obviously, we have borders, and we have laws that apply to them, and we 
have to apply them, and so do the

[[Page 1699]]

Mexicans. But I think over the long run, our countries will become more 
interdependent.
    If you just look at what's happened in the relationship between the 
United States and Mexico since NAFTA, President-elect Fox had 
mentioned--made a reference to the assistance the United States gave to 
Mexico when they had a serious financial crisis. But I always like to 
remind the American people that our Mexican neighbors paid their loan 
back ahead of time and in the best possible way. They were good 
neighbors. We did the right thing. And everything that has happened 
there has validated the commitment of every genuine friend of an equal 
partnership in our country.
    I think over time, you will see growing interdependence in our 
hemisphere. And I think the Canadians will be a part of that, and I very 
much hope our friends in Central America and South America and the 
Caribbean will be part of that. It will be the way of the world. And we 
will all have to deal with the enemies of organized society and the 
nation-state together, as well as taking advantage of all these 
opportunities. I regret that I won't be around for a lot of it. But I 
think it's a good thing.
    Q. [Inaudible]--an idea to increase the number of legal visas for 
Mexico, up to a quarter of a million visas, in exchange for more 
cooperation and enforcement on the Mexican side to stop illegal 
immigration from coming to the U.S. How do you see that? Is that doable?
    President Clinton. Well, I want to talk to him about it. I think if 
you look at the United States, I believe we have the most generous 
immigration policy in the world. And as you know, I've been a very 
strong supporter of that. We were just talking on the way out about the 
various kinds of people that are in our administration and where they're 
from, and America has been made a better country because of that. But I 
want to talk about the details. Look, we just met. We have to go talk.
    Do you want to say anything to him?
    Q. Did you talk about border issues with Vice President Gore, and 
what did he say, Vice President Gore?
    President-elect Fox. I will have a press conference later for that 
meeting.

 [At this point, a question was asked and answered in Spanish, and no 
translation was provided.]

    President Clinton. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 12:34 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. A tape was not available for verification of the content of these 
remarks.