For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 16, 2001
Remarks by President George W. Bush and President Vicente Fox of Mexico in Joint Press Conference
Rancho San Cristobal San Cristobal, Mexico
2:37 P.M. (L)
PRESIDENT FOX: Good
afternoon. Good afternoon, Mr. President. This
morning I have held very productive and cordial talks with the
President of the United States, Mr. George W. Bush. We have
agreed on a set of principles and values to provide our relationship as
neighbors with more constructive dynamics of more intense cooperation,
in order to unfold all the potential of our bilateral relations.
The fact that the President, George Bush's
first foreign visit has our country as its destination is a clear
message of the interest his administration places on strengthening
links with Mexico. At the same time, it is quite a
distinction.
This starting point is very encouraging, so
that both Mexicans and Americans, together, to inaugurate an era of
shared prosperity together. I also acknowledge President
Bush's demonstration of friendship by coming to Guanajuato, the cradle
of Mexico's independence. And I am particularly grateful for
his greeting my mother, Dona Mercedes, as well as for his visit to my
house -- his house -- here in San Cristobal.
Let me tell you, Mr. President, that you will
always be welcome in this, your home -- or, in your language,
President, you know that we consider you a friend of Mexico, a friend
of Mexican people, and a friend of mine.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir.
PRESIDENT FOX: The agreements we
have reached today are embodied in the document that we have, and we
ratified our commitment to values of democracy and the promotion of
human rights, as well as the aim of the fruits of development reach all
sectors of our society.
The global and hemispheric agenda was also an
important part of our talks, as is fitting in a mature dialogue between
two prominent members of the international community. We
have identified a renewed will for cooperation to design, together with
our Canadian partners, a region guided by the search for shared
prosperity.
We, the Presidents of Mexico and the United
States, have the favorable circumstance of beginning our respective
mandates simultaneously. This enables us to project our
common objectives with a long-term vision and to undertake negotiations
in areas that require a decisive and systematic impetus from the two
governments.
Mr. President Bush, the spirit in which we
have conducted this first working meeting marks the beginning of a
novel stage in our bilateral relations. I am certain that we
will be able to take advantage of the historic opportunity we have
today to set out on the way to a century of shared
prosperity. We will face this challenge on the basis of
mutual trust, with a fresh and creative vision to advance in the topics
of our bilateral agenda.
Once again, welcome, and this is your home.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Muchos gracias,
amigo, el Presidente de Mexico. Su recepcion tan calida
refleja el grande amistad entre nuestros pueblos. Me hace
sentir que estoy entre familia. Thank you very much.
It's a great honor to come to Mexico as this
important nation enjoys a new birth of freedom, signaled by President
Fox's election. Our meetings today have been a really good
opportunity to renew our personal friendship and the friendship between
Mexico and the United States.
Mexico is the first foreign country I have
visited as President, and I intended it to be that way. Our
nations are bound together by ties of history, family, values, commerce
and culture. Today, these ties give us an unprecedented
opportunity. We have a chance to build a partnership that
will improve the lives of citizens in both countries.
I came here today to seek President Fox's
views on how we can go about building on our partnership. We
enjoyed a warm and substantive and frank dialogue on the many issues
that shape the relationship between America and Mexico.
We talked about strengthening our trade
relationship, which offers hope and opportunity on both sides of our
border. We talked about how our two nations can work
together to meet our current and future energy needs. We exchanged
ideas about safe and orderly migration, a policy that respects
individuals on both sides of the border. We talked about
expanding educational opportunities. We talked about what we
can do together to fight drug trafficking and other types of organized
crime.
We also talked about what we can do together
to extend the benefits of freedom and prosperity throughout the entire
hemisphere. I told President Fox that building a hemisphere
of freedom will be a fundamental commitment of my
administration. We both look forward to discussing these
ideas with other hemispheric leaders in Quebec in April at the Summit
of the Americas.
We are welcoming a new day in the relationship
between America and Mexico. Each nation has a new President,
and a new perspective. Geography has made us neighbors;
cooperation and respect will make us partners. And the
promise of the partnership was renewed and reinvigorated today.
Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT FOX: If I understood
correctly, we're going to take questions in Spanish for the Mexican
press, and some questions in English for the American
press. So we'll go first to the women first, and here we'll
take the Spanish question first.
Q I have two questions,
one for the President of Mexico. We've spoken about new
agreements and a new path on migration issues. What has been
the advancements on the two topics as you -- you're campaign to open
the border for the free transit of people and to have the free trade
agreement in the same way that the European Community has done it?
You talked to President Bush about the
amnesty, about the illegal aliens in the United States. I
have a question for President Bush. What is the message that
you want to send right now, what does the United States want to send to
the world as a message with the new bombing of Iraq? And,
above all, why, Mr. Bush, at this point, when you are establishing a
dialogue with the President of Mexico? Why? Is
this a beginning of a new war?
PRESIDENT FOX: Actually, we
discussed amply the migration issues that we have. But this
is not a meeting in which decisions or details are going to be reached,
because they do not belong in the power of -- the executive power, as
such, because they have to have the participation of other groups.
We have spoken on migration from the viewpoint
of our countrymen that are in the United States, and we have spoken
about the possibilities of working on agreements of temporary legal
work and employment. We have spoken on the firm idea that we
have of fighting violence against immigrants, and to work based on the
law, and to see how the coyotes and all the people that will be taking
these people -- or the polleros taking our illegal workers into U.S.
territory.
We have spoken of a long-term vision and
approach and constructive approach on this topic. And
perhaps here, the most important thing will be presented by President
Bush later on. But certainly there is a new attitude, there
is a new way of approaching things, much more positive approach to
things on this issue of migration.
The conclusion has been to create a commission
at the highest level, as it was read in the Guanajuato Proposal, to
begin and to discuss and to advance on this topic on very concrete
steps. I believe this is a great advancement on what we had
before.
PRESIDENT BUSH: In answer to part B
of your question, the United States is engaged in the Middle East and
Persian Gulf. We will remain so. Since 1991, our country
has been enforcing what's called a no-fly zone. A routine
mission was conducted to enforce the no-fly zone. And it is
a mission about which I was informed and I authorized. But,
I repeat, it is a routine mission, and we will continue to enforce the
no-fly zone until the world is told otherwise.
Ron.
Q Sir, as you say, this
is the first military action you've taken as President of the United
States. I'm wondering whether it signals a hardening of the
U.S. position towards Iraq. And specifically, is it your
goal to drive Saddam Hussein from power? And, secondly, are
you putting Saddam on notice today that American military action will
be more frequent or more forceful than it was before you became
President?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Mr. Fournier,
Saddam Hussein has got to understand that we expect him to conform to
the agreement that he signed after Desert Storm. We will
enforce the no-fly zone, both south and north. Our intention
is to make sure that the world is as peaceful as
possible. And we're going to watch very carefully as to
whether or not he develops weapons of mass destruction, and if we catch
him doing so we'll take the appropriate action.
Q Mr. President,
President Bush, welcome to Mexico. We will be waiting for
you in Cancun. The question is on globalization; the
question, support to Mexico. And another question,
certification in Mexico, will it continue? Will it disappear
forever? Would you trust our friend, Fox?
PRESIDENT BUSH: The question is on
drug certification and really about our relations with President
Fox. I trust your President. He's the kind of man
you can look in the eye and know he's shooting straight with
you. I appreciate the fact that he was a one-time
governor. I've got kind of partiality to governors.
We need to work together on the drug
issue. One of the reasons why drugs are shipped -- the main
reason why drugs are shipped through Mexico to the United States is
because United States citizens use drugs. And our nation
must do a better job of educating our citizenry about the dangers and
evils of drug use.
Secondly, I believe there is a movement in the
country to review all the certification process. I'm
certainly going to take the message back to the members of Congress
that I firmly believe that President Fox will do everything in his
power to root out the drug lords and to halt drug trafficking as best
as he possibly can.
As you know, he made some very bold and
courageous statements about extradition. He showed unique
leadership on that issue. It certainly caught my
attention. And I believe when the American people and the
members of Congress hear this bold action that he's willing to take,
they will understand what I know, that he is committed to battling the
drug trade.
Jim -- Steve, sorry. You
are? (Laughter.) We've got you out of order -- I
know you're Steve. Stefan, hombre muy bueno.
Q Sir, now that
Republicans have told you there are not enough votes for your tax plan
in the Senate, how do you proceed from here? And do you
consider cutting the size of it?
PRESIDENT BUSH: His question was
about our tax plan. I don't agree with that assessment, that
there are not enough votes in the Senate. I believe when
it's all said and done, we're going to get a tax bill out of the House
and the Senate that will be at the level I think it ought to be. I
know there is a lot of speculation about members, but it's early, it's
early in the process.
Washington, Mr. President, has got a unique
way of asking Presidents to negotiate with themselves. And
that's not what is going to happen in this
administration. We'll get a tax package because it's the
right thing for the American people.
Ours, Mr. President, is getting ready to
submit a budget that will set priorities. Education will be
a priority; health care for our citizens will be a priority; setting
aside Social Security -- all the payroll taxes for Social Security will
be a priority. We've still got money left over and I want to
pass some of it back to the people who pay the bills, in order to make
sure our economy does not drag.
And the President and I talked about economic
growth. He knows exactly what I know, that if our economy
were to slow significantly, it would affect our abilities to see the
benefits of free trade; it would affect the Mexican economy.
And so I want to assure our friends from
Mexico that we will put fiscal and monetary -- I have nothing to do
with monetary policy, of course -- but fiscal policy in place that will
affect economic growth, because it is beneficial not only for our
people, but for the Mexican people.
Look, to answer your question directly, we are
going to get a good tax cut through and I think it is going to be the
size I'm suggesting.
Q To President Fox,
since you two are working together on several actions that you want to
undertake together in a short future and also in the long-term future,
do you support the military actions like the ones like the United
States is doing, bombing Iraq? Thank you.
PRESIDENT FOX: I do not have a
position or a statement on that topic, specifically because this will
be done through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the future.
It's your turn.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Short answer, Mr.
President. (Laughter.) Campbell Brown.
Q Much has been made of
you choosing Mexico as your first foreign trip. But it is
also causing consternation among the European allies and Canada that
you are going to put a greater emphasis here at the expense of those
countries. What do you say to that, please?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, I appreciate
that question. First, I met with Prime Minister Chretien and
assured him that a vision of -- a foreign policy that understands good
policy starts in the neighborhood is a vision that goes both north and
south.
I would hope that nations around the world,
and leaders, would understand the logic behind saying that good foreign
policy, good relations must be firm on our borders. I can't
think of anything more logical and more common-sensical than to
understand our hemisphere which can be and will be bound by freedom and
free markets and free trade is in the interests of our people.
We'll have a foreign policy as one that
engages the world. I've rejected isolationism, as you know,
and protectionism. Ours is going to be an active foreign
policy. It's going to be consistent and firm; one that starts, though,
by building friendships -- in this case, renewing a
friendship. And it should send a strong signal to all
nations who watch that if you're our friend, we'll be your
friend. And Mexico is our friend and will remain our
friend.
Q Thank you very much,
Presidents Bush and Fox. A question for President
Fox. Do you think that it is not an improper gesture in this
for a visit that the recent bombing of Iraq is one that is attracting
the attention, and would put a shade or a shadow on this meeting here
in Guanajuato?
PRESIDENT FOX: I see no reason why
we should connect one event with the other one. Here we are
in the process of building up and constructing a strategy to foster the
economic and human development of a complete region that is formed by
three countries that have been associated under a free trade agreement,
and the relationship between the United States and Mexico that has
proven already that has made advancements, very constructively.
The levels of trade we have are really
fantastic and they are the envy of many people. Many people
have never thought that in the year of 2001 with a trade balance of
$250 billion. This has meant development for the United
States; it has meant employment in the United States. It has
meant development and employment in Mexico, as well.
This is what has allowed us to reduce
substantially the level of poverty in Mexico. In the last
four years, more than 4 million poor people have gone beyond extreme
poverty levels. This is what we have invested on, to take
these people above this level. And all the time that we have
invested discussing these strategic points allow us to see that there
is a possibility of going ahead to get more benefits from good
relationships and to be true partners toward prosperity, and to be true
friends and to be true neighbors.
And this purpose is something that has been
clearly stated today and we're very pleased with it. And we
are full of confidence that we can see the future with a more
optimistic approach as of today's meeting.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Jim.
Q Thank you, Mr.
President. Apologies to you, Presidente Fox, for not asking
a question about the U.S. and Mexico. But, President Bush,
if I may, another question about Iraq. As we understand it,
this was in response to violations that have happened over several
weeks, perhaps several months. What prompted you to take
this decision at this time?
PRESIDENT BUSH: The commanders on
the ground, rightly, make the decision as to how to enforce the no-fly
zone. I want to assure those who don't understand U.S.
policy that this is a routine mission. Some of the missions
require the Commander-in- Chief to be informed. This was
such a mission. It is not the first time it has happened,
regrettably so.
We will continue to enforce the no-fly
zones. The no-fly zones are enforced on a daily
basis. It is a part of a strategy, and until that strategy
is changed, if it is changed at all, we will continue to enforce the
no-fly zone.
But, anyway, the decision is made on the
ground, Jim.
Q I would like to ask
you whether there was a petition from the U.S. government as far as oil
is concerned, or any requests for support on electricity and oil?
PRESIDENT FOX: No, not
specifically. We spoke about the California problems, by
itself, and, yes, we are speaking about the possibility of creating an
energy policy that will be common to all the northern part of the
country and into Canada, the United States and Mexico and part of
Central America, to try to create a synergy or a synergism so that each
one of the countries would benefit from all these policies, because
there is energy that we need to import in Mexico that we do not have
enough, and at this moment we know in some part of the U.S. territory,
this is happening, too. And the same could happen to the
Central American countries.
Here, what is important is to have a common
policy whereby no one takes advantage of the other. But the
other way around it, and it's a win-win situation for everyone, that
everyone would be benefitted from the organization of an energy plan
for the benefit of all the continent of, in this case, the northern
part of the Americas.
We also spoke about water problems at the
border zones. These are common problems that we have, and if
we administer and manage these common problems in a timely manner, in a
positive and optimistic way, we could mutually be benefitted in the
water problems that we have at the border. And this is something that
obviously we discussed here.
I believe this is the foundation that we laid
down for our project today. And we are trying with goodwill
to remove all the obstacles and to take advantage of all the
opportunities that we have. And, certainly, today we saw
more opportunities than obstacles. And therefore, I do
ratify that this makes us see the near future with much more optimism
than before.
Q Mr. President, when
you met with President Fox in August in Dallas, you talked about the
possibility of finding ways to share energy resources. With
the current climate in America -- energy prices high, supplies low --
can you tell me how you pushed that issue today and what sense of
progress you have?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, I appreciate
that. The question was about energy policy. First
of all, good energy policy is one that encompasses not only Mexico, but
Canada. We must think about energy shortages and energy
demands in regards to our hemisphere.
Secondly, the President and I did discuss how
best to share resources to the benefit of both countries. We
talked about the possibility of exploration in Canada and the United
States and Mexico. A cubic foot of gas imported into Mexico
is one, obviously, less able to burn in the United
States. It is a hemispheric issue and it needs to be
elevated to the presidential level.
We did talk about power, the generation of
power; the possibility as to whether or not in Baja, for example, more
power could be added to the Western Grid. It's an obvious
opportunity, if possible. Now, there are some bottlenecks,
and one of the things we need to do is address those bottlenecks, one
of which is the ability to transmit power from south to north.
Now, there is pipeline
availability. And we're going to need to -- so when we talk
about an energy policy at home, it is also in the context of Mexico and
Canada. This is an issue where we need to continue the
dialogue. It's an issue that is going to affect the people
of Mexico and the people of the United States if we don't recognize
that we need more supply.
We can conserve better; there's no question
about it. But demand is far outstripping supply, which is
creating a real problem for the working people of our respective
countries. And so this subject, rightly so, took quite a bit
of time in our meeting, and is going to take more time down the road.
We have a great opportunity to come together
and have a strategy that honors Mexico and honors its sovereignty and,
at the same time, recognizes that people are what matters
most. And we've got to make sure our people have got the
energy necessary to be able to find jobs and find work.
PRESIDENT FOX: We are
finished. Thank you very much for coming to the press
conference. Good luck and thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: They just want to
get in the picture.
END
3:05 P.M. (L)
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