RE: press release 9/19/2001

[Guest guest]

Press release - 19/09/2001

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS [Mexico]

http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/?P=11 & Orden=Leer & Tipo=Ne & Art=1882#top

September 19, 2001, MEXICO CITY -- Just days ago, Mexico

seemed closer than ever to solving its trickiest historical problem: its

troubled relationship with the United States.

But after the terrorist attacks on Washington and New York, Mexico

is suddenly finding that its northern neighbor has little time to

consider issues like immigration reform, temporary work visas,

amnesty for illegal migrants and more open borders.

Mexicans are now hoping the tragedies won't make America more

fearful of its neighbors. And the Mexican government has already

embarked on an effort - despite considerable domestic criticism - to

prove that, in times of trouble, Mexico is a friend.

"I don't think this has hardened anybody's hearts" against migrants,

said , President Vicente Fox's pointman in the effort

to win better treatment for Mexicans abroad. "I believe our hearts

have been quite softened by this tragedy."

said Mexico's response, including setting up a blood bank

and aid hotline for bombing victims at Fox's residence in Mexico

City, "is showing that Mexico is a friend of the United States."

Fox said Bush reassured him in a weekend phone call that he "hasn't

forgotten that we have commitments to work to regularize the

situation of immigrants."

"First things first, right now they have to take of this business," Fox

said. "The truth is, it surprised me that even in these difficult

moments, President Bush himself hasn't forgotten his commitments."

Others are less inclined to optimism, especially given the upsurge in

anti-foreigner sentiment in some U.S. communities.

"It's difficult to imagine that, at this point, President Bush would

support a program to legalize millions of immigrants," wrote foreign

affairs specialist Ana Salazar in the newspaper Reforma.

What a change a week has made. Four days before the attacks, Fox

wound up a warmly received visit to Washington, in which he

challenged Bush to negotiate immigration reform by the end of 2001.

"A week ago, the conditions for an immigration accord appeared

excellent," wrote political analyst Trejo. "After Tuesday,

nobody in the United States may be interested in the issue anymore."

To balance that, Mexico has focused on deepening the relationship.

Opposition lawmakers criticized Foreign Secretary Castaneda

for saying "the United States has every right and reason to seek

revenge. ... We cannot deny them support."

Eleven Mexicans were officially listed as missing from the attack,

although Mexico officials believe dozens more also died.

Soon after taking office Dec. 1, Fox dropped Mexico's traditional

policy against interference in other countries' internal affairs.

Instead,

Fox has made make respect for human rights his main foreign policy

guideline - and better treatment for immigrants his main goal.

The migration plan "is probably going into the deep freeze for a

while," said Hugo Irigouin, a lawyer for an immigrant aid service in

Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas.

"It's logical," Irigouin said. "They have to be careful of their

borders."

Others see it as a temporary setback in a centuries-long struggle.

"Independently of what happens with terrorism, the United States has

problems with the border and immigration, and they're not going to

go away," said Lorenzo Meyer, a history professor at the Colegio de

Mexico.

"It's not such a big setback, because the truth is, Mexico was never at

the top of the U.S. agenda, even if it looked that way for a while."

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