Christopher’s Mood-Mending Mission to Mexico City : Trip affirms solidity and value of the bilateral relation

Secretary of State Warren Christopher led a team of nine Cabinet officers to a summit in Mexico this week and got a feel of the sore parts of the complex relationship with our southern neighbor. However, the long-term outlook for the bilateral bonds remains solid, problems notwithstanding.

Acknowledging the relentless pressure on President Ernesto Zedillo’s administration from the Mexican press and opposition political parties to take a tougher stand against abuse of countrymen in the United States, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Angel Gurria told Christopher that Mexico is worried by trends that could lead to a confrontational relationship. For the Mexicans, the videotaped beatings of two illegal immigrants in South El Monte is the logical consequence of the anti-immigrant rhetoric championed by politicians like Gov. Pete Wilson, Sen. Dianne Feinstein and presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan.

Recent statements by U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Administrator Thomas Constantine suggesting that drug money was being laundered in Mexican banks further fouled the air. Mexican officials and commentators do not question the possibility of money laundering but insist that Constantine back his allegations with names and figures. Practically, this 13th meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Binational Commission set up a special working group to consider ways to abate drug money laundering.

The issues discussed over the two days of talks were upfront and serious. Among the main agreements was one that seeks to minimize the possibility that undocumented foreigners will suffer mistreatment in police custody in either country. Mexican and American nationals, with or without visas, would be given notice of their rights from the arresting officer, including the right to contact consular representatives.

Ten other agreements on a range of bilateral topics such as health, the environment, education and transportation also were signed. And, on diplomatic policy, Christopher tried to ease Mexican concerns over a new U.S. law tightening restrictions on Cuba, saying it was aimed only at deterring future investment in Cuba.

This was a mood-mending mission, which Christopher made clear before departing by expressing a belief that any anti-Mexico attitudes in the United States will fade after the November election and that the long and sometimes fitful relationship will return to a positive course. But it will take a lot more than the passage of an election year. Whoever sits in the White House come next spring will have to persuade Americans that year in, year out there is no bilateral relationship as significant as that with Mexico.

The United States has more important trade partners and its border with Canada is longer and far calmer, but Mexico is tightly bound to America by history, migration, markets and hope. It has become, and should be, a responsibly assertive neighbor.

With the nation’s production falling, more than 2 million people unemployed, a 50% inflation rate and rising crime, Mexico’s recovery depends mainly on the efforts of the Mexicans themselves. For his part, President Zedillo has to convince his people that his chosen route of cooperation with the United States presents Mexico with its best chance to come out of its current economic difficulties.