    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [April 21, 2008]
    [Pages 539-540]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Reopening of the Mexican Consulate in New
    Orleans, Louisiana
    April 21, 2008

        President Bush. Thank you. Sientese, por favor. Mr.
    President, we are sure
    glad you're here.
        President Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa of Mexico. Thank you, sir.
        President Bush. And thank you for inviting me to be here. Madam
    Foreign Minister, Consul Garcia
    Guerra, Ambassador, thanks. Governor, el alcalde--Mr. Mayor,
    Ambassador Garza, I am really glad to
    be with you on this special occasion. I am pleased that Mexico has
    chosen to reopen its consulate in New Orleans, and I'm honored to
    attend.
        New Orleans has had a long tradition of diplomatic ties with Mexico.
    In 1824, New Orleans, Louisiana, became the first site of the Mexican--
    where the first Mexican--became the site for the first Mexican consulate
    in the United States. Isn't that interesting? Unfortunately, the
    consulate was closed in 2002. And so today we're

    [[Page 540]]

    reopening the consulate. And it's a good sign, because we celebrate the
    values that cause Mexico and the United States to be friends, values
    like family and faith and culture.
        We celebrate the enduring and close partnership between our
    countries. Mexico and the United States are working together to build a
    future of prosperity and opportunity for people on both sides of the
    border.
        And at this ceremony, we also celebrate the comeback of a great
    American city. You know, I chose New Orleans for our meetings with
    Mexico and Canada because I wanted to send a clear signal to the people
    of my country that New Orleans is open for business, and it's a good
    place to visit, and that after the devastation of Katrina, it's become a
    hopeful city.
        And so on behalf of the people of the United States, Mr.
    President, mi amigo, I
    thank you for reopening this consulate. I look forward to our meetings.
    And it's my honor to bring you to the podium.

    Note: The President spoke at 1 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to
    Secretary of Foreign Relations Patricia Espinosa Cantellano and Consul
    Andrea Garcia Guerra of Mexico; Mexico's Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo
    Sarukhan Casamitjana; Gov. Piyush ``Bobby'' Jindal of Louisiana; and
    Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans, LA. The transcript released by the
    Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of President
    Calderon Hinojosa. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a
    Spanish language transcript of these remarks.