PRESIDENT FOX: Good afternoon. Thank you very
much. Yes, in fact, it has been a very productive meeting, a
meeting where we have touched upon three subjects, three
chapters. One deals with what we have called the border
alliance, more intelligent borders and the "smart border" initiative.
The purpose is, firstly, to introduce the safety factor and hold it
as an important priority, and at the same time, with the same emphasis,
to seek for efficient borders, customs that are efficient, as well, for
an expeditious flow both of people, merchandise,
products. And in this sense, what we seek is for those using
these crossings, which are hundreds of thousands of people every day,
to do so with that efficiency we are talking about.
Likewise, within this same sense, we talked about a program to
modernize, technologically speaking, our borders. And this
would promote that efficiency.
Among other points within this same category, we have also spoken
about opening in airports that have high traffic, both in the United
States and Mexico, a line to take care of the Mexicans and Canadians
coming into Mexico, and in the case of Mexico, taking care of U.S.
citizens and Canadian citizens.
The second topic is what we have called the Partnership for
Prosperity, where there are plenty of topics, but the specific purpose
is to generate opportunities for advancement, opportunities for income,
and mainly, in communities with high migratory rates in
Mexico. For this purpose, we have spoken of joining efforts
to facilitate resources for micro, small and medium-sized companies who
are the ones generating the highest number of jobs.
We have spoken of also working to bring down the cost of migrators'
remittances to their families in Mexico, and this way facilitating
those resources becoming productive projects toward important
generation of employment and opportunities.
We talked about important program of scholarships where, on the
U.S. side, there will be investments up to $50 million, precisely to
promote these scholarships and promote to the state level the creation
of scholarships for universities. This is important in the
purpose of creating, forming human resources.
And, on the other hand, we have also spoken of generating and
facilitating resources for infrastructure, especially at the border,
infrastructure for an efficient use of water, for water treatment
plants, infrastructure for ecological or environmental purposes at the
border, and some other investments in infrastructure along the same
lines, the border.
On the other hand, I believe it is very significant, and we have
talked about it again, to have this great drive that has been announced
by President Bush at the Financing for Development
Conference. And it's the purpose to try to increase
important resources for countries that are not as developed, for poorer
countries.
We have heard from many leaders present, many heads of state, who
truly expressed this was welcome information, a welcome
announcement. And, of course, same goes for
us. We are not a country to receive the help, but we clearly
understand that there are countries who require this help to combat
poverty very close to us, such as the case of Central America.
So we hope that these additional funds, I repeat, have been very
welcome, well-received by the community of smaller countries present
here. This time these same resources also, part of them, to be used in
these countries of Latin America or Central America.
This effort of what has seemed to be called the participation in
the Millennium, the Challenge of the Millennium, is important for
us. And we have verified this importance it has for the
community of countries.
Thank you. Now Mr. Bush will speak.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you for your hospitality and thank
you for hosting the important Conference on Reducing Global
Poverty. It was a success, thanks to your leadership and
your vision.
I'm so glad that the world could see Monterrey,
Mexico. It is a really dynamic city. It's
important for the world also to realize that, as a result of President
Fox's vision, this country is reforming. It's a vibrant
place; it's an exciting place for people to live. People are
finding jobs in Mexico.
And, Mr. President, I am grateful to call you
friend. Thank you for your leadership, as well.
I try to remind people in my country as many times as I can, a
vibrant, prosperous Mexico is in the best interests of the United
States of America.
We were at the White House on September the 5th, and here's what I
said then. The United States has no more important
relationship in the world than the one we have with
Mexico. I believed it on September the 5th, I believe it
today. And since September the 11th, those words have been
tested and proven.
I deeply appreciate President Fox's early support and his
continuing advice. And on behalf of the American people, I
thank the people of Mexico for their support and sympathy.
The relationship between the United States and Mexico is very
strong, is very important, and it's growing stronger every
day. America respects Mexico's culture, and Mexico's
achievements. By embracing markets and fiscal discipline,
Mexico has created one of the most resilient economies in the
region. And through NAFTA, our nations have forged one of
the world's most dynamic trading relationships.
Every day we exchange more than $650 million worth of commerce,
creating wealth and opportunity for consumers and workers and families
on both sides of the border. President Fox and I are
determined to extend the benefits of free markets to all our
citizens. As part of our Partnership for Prosperity, we'll
help focus private investment on less developed parts of Mexico,
creating more jobs and more opportunities for more people.
President Fox and I are determined to make our shared border
modern, efficient, and secure. The Smart Border Declaration
our countries have just signed will move us toward this important
goal. Our common border must be closed to drugs and
terrorists, and open to trade and legitimate travel.
America is grateful for Mexico's fight against the drug cartels,
and I salute your many breakthroughs this year, Mr.
President. President Fox and I talked about
migration. Last year we established a process to address
this issue. We're making good and steady
progress. Migrants make a valuable contribution to America.
It's also important for our nation to recognize as we discuss
immigration, Mexico has got a unique place in this
issue. Mexico is different from other countries, not only
because of our proximity, but because of our special relationship.
We made some progress this year on an issue called
245(i). It's an important piece of
legislation. It allowed families to stay
together. It passed the House of
Representatives. Unfortunately, it got stalled in the United
States Senate. And my hope, Mr. President, is we're able to
get it out of the United States Senate and to my desk so I can sign
it.
President Fox and I agreed on measures to reform the North American
Development Bank, known as NAD Bank. We will increase the
bank's ability to make low interest loans to address urgent
environmental priorities along the border. We also agreed to
expand the bank's range, so more people can benefit. Mexico
and America are proud nations, united by timeless values: by
democracy, by faith and by freedom. We have a modern
relationship sustained by a mutual respect and trust.
We've entered a new era of trade and cooperation and
prosperity. And the United States and Mexico are building an
historic partnership, one which will benefit both our peoples and
provide a good example for the rest of the world.
Q President Bush, have you or General Zinni
heard anything from Chairman Arafat that indicates that a meeting
between him and Vice President Cheney could help -- Israeli-
Palestinian troops? And honoring President Fox's request
that we focus on poverty over this summit, could I also ask you to
explain why your administration is withholding the $34 million that
Congress appropriated to the United Nations Population Fund -- this
year's budget.
And, President Fox, do you have any thoughts on -- administration's
decision on the United Nations Population Fund?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me start with the
later. That violated the one-question rule, but -- I said
we're not going to use taxpayers' money to fund
abortion. And we're going to make sure before we spend
taxpayers' money that we're not funding abortion.
And as to your first question, as I have said all along, General
Zinni will assess the situation in the Middle East. And a
meeting could happen if and when Chairman Arafat performs -- does what
he's supposed to do. Those conditions have been laid out by Vice
President Cheney. And now General Zinni is trying to
determine whether or not he is going to do what he said he would do.
PRESIDENT FOX: The second question, what is the question
to me?
Q Your reaction to President Bush's decision
to withhold $34 million from the United Nations Population Fund and
their family planning work around the world.
PRESIDENT FOX: None. No
comment. His decision is totally independent. No
comment from my side.
Q My question concerns both Mexico and the
United States in a way. President Bush, the Cuban government claims
that President Fidel Castro's early departure from the summit is a
result of pressures from your government. And, Mr.
President, I want to know if you really would have felt uncomfortable
to encounter Fidel Castro here in Monterrey?
And for President Fox, Mr. President, what is the relationship
between Mexico and Cuba now after Ricardo
Alarcon made the government of
Mexico responsible for President Castro's early departure?
PRESIDENT BUSH: First of all, I know of no pressure
placed on anybody. I mean, Fidel Castro can do what he wants
to do. And what I'm uncomfortable about is the way he treats
his people. There's only one country that's not a democracy
in our hemisphere, and that's Cuba. And it makes me
uncomfortable to realize that there is still one country that doesn't
have free press, freedom to speak, freedom to realize your dreams. And
I feel strongly about that, and I'm going to continue to speak out on
the fact that this island is a place of repression, a place where the
people don't have hope.
Q Did you pressure anybody?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I don't know what you're talking about,
about pressuring anybody. I just said that.
PRESIDENT FOX: There has been no modification in our
relationships. We said good-bye to Mr. Fidel Castro. His
visit ended. And there is no modification or alteration.
Q Mr. President, President Bush, are you
prepared to offer Peru new military assistance to help crack down on
terrorism in the wake of the bombing in Lima? And is it time
to resume drug surveillance --
PRESIDENT BUSH: On the drug surveillance issue, we have
yet -- not made up our mind yet. We're analyzing not only
what took place in the past, but the most effective way to help Peru
fight narcotics.
The first part of the question? I'm sorry, Steve.
Q Helping Peru with terrorism with new
military assistance.
PRESIDENT BUSH: We're going to analyze all options
available to help Peru. But the first place we need to help
Peru is to get the Andean Trade Preference Act out of the U.S.
Congress. One of the messages I'm taking to not only Peru,
but the other Andean nations, is ATPA is important -- it's important to
my administration, it's important to their future, and I'd like to see
it renewed as quickly as possible.
Q Thank you. Good
afternoon. The Cuban government says that the Mexican
government was pressured. The Mexican government said they
had no pressure. Who is lying, Mr. President
Fox? Who is lying, Mr. President Bush? The Cubans
or the Mexicans? Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I thought I just answered that
question. (Laughter.) Maybe I missed it -- or you
did. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT FOX: There is no such thing. Mr.
Fidel Castro visited Mexico, visited the conference, the U.N.
conference. He was here, he participated in the conference
and he returned to Cuba; nothing more.
Q President Bush, good
evening. During his recent trip to the Middle East, the Vice
President made it very clear that at each stop he told our Arab allies
that no military action against Iraq was imminent. Isn't it also true
that this administration is telling our allies, Arab allies and others
around the world, that this government is, however, committed -- as
committed to removing Saddam Hussein from power as the administration
was for removing the Taliban?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me put it to you this way, David --
what we're telling our friends is that Saddam Hussein is a man who is
willing to gas his own people, willing to use weapons of mass
destruction again Iraq citizens. Evidently, there's a new
article in the New York magazine or New Yorker magazine -- some East
Coast magazine -- and it details about his barbaric behavior toward his
own people. And not only did he do it to his own people, he
did it to people in his neighborhood. And this is a man who
refuses to allow us to determine whether or not he still has weapons of
mass destruction, which leads me to believe he does.
He is a dangerous man who possesses the world's most dangerous
weapons. And it is incumbent upon freedom-loving nations to
hold him accountable, which is precisely what the United States of
America will do.
I haven't had a chance to explain this to our Mexican friends, but
a nightmare scenario, of course, would be if a terrorist organization,
such as al Qaeda were to link up with a barbaric regime such as Iraq
and, thereby, in essence, possess weapons of mass
destruction. We cannot allow that to happen.
And so, David, what I've told others, including President Fox, is
we have no imminent plans to use military operations. We'll
be deliberate; we'll consult with our friends and
allies. But we'll deal with Saddam Hussein. And
he knows that. And this is exactly what I've been saying
ever since I've been the President.
Q Does that mean you will remove him --
PRESIDENT BUSH: As I said, yes, we'd like to see a
regime change in Iraq. That's been the longstanding policy
of the U.S. government. Nothing is new
there. That's precisely what has been said since I became
President of the United States. But close consultations with
our friends from all around the world -- and they -- I think
people have got a pretty good sense of how I view him. And I
hope that, of course, he allows inspectors to go into his country, like
he promised he would do. Not for he sake of letting
inspectors in, but to showing the world that he has no weapons of mass
destruction.
Q Good evening, Mr. President, if truly your
government has contemplated some date about the migratory agreement
with Mexico? And also here at the Forum there was something
from former President Carter for amnesty for 3 million Mexican workers
in the U.S. Your government would consider legalizing them,
or are you saying no?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I think the best way to describe what is
possible in the United States is that beyond 245(i), which is the
family reunification, is, first of all, understanding the unique nature
of the Mexican in our country; that the Mexican national is different
by virtue of the fact of the proximity to the United States, and that
we do have a special relationship between our countries, not only
defined by NAFTA, but defined by cultural ties and historic
ties. And so I think that ought to be a part of any
discussions.
But here's my attitude. I think what our country ought
to do is help match any willing employer with any willing employee, so
that if somebody is looking for somebody who wants to work and somebody
wants to work, we can facilitate that arrangement.
And we've got a lot of discussions and work to do. But
what I've assured President Fox and his administration is that we will
continue working on this issue. We've got technical groups
working on it and he and I will continue working on it.