FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR GARZA: “PIVOTAL POINT IN U.S./MEXICO RELATIONS”

Calderon’s Visit to the U.S. Underscores Seriousness of Present Challenges Facing U.S., Mexico

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO--The following statement may be attributed to former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio O. Garza:

“President Felipe Calderon’s visit to the U.S. on Thursday underscores the seriousness of present challenges facing the United States and Mexico.

“The recent murder of Agent Jaime Zapata in Mexico clearly escalated the sense of urgency in addressing some crucial security challenges, and I’ve remarked on more than one occasion that we in the U.S. cannot turn a blind eye to our part of the security equation. Specifically, the United States must take ownership of our country’s unabating demand for drugs and the flow of guns southward, and for its part, Mexico cannot be naïve about the country’s need to continue to focus on building stronger institutions and rooting out endemic corruption.

“I’m hopeful that President Obama and President Calderon will also take time to tackle a number of the other incredibly complex issues that impact our economies and communities across both our countries.

“I feel strongly that if we are to advance bilateral relations and move us toward the regional development, prosperity and competitiveness that both nations desire, we must press forward with not only open, productive communication but also cooperation.”

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Antonio O. Garza is the former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. He is counsel in the Mexico City office of White & Case and a partner with ViaNovo, a U.S.-based public affairs consultancy. Ambassador Garza is online at www.tonygarza.com and via Twitter @aogarza.

Media contact: Jennifer Harris, (512) 773-7168 jennifer (at) tonygarza.com