Thread: An interview of Retired Mexican Ambassador Leonardo Ffrench

<img src=http://www.antesdelcaos.com/Antes_del_caos/Antes_del_caos/Entries/2009/6/13_Una_charla_con_el_embajador_Leonardo_Ffrench_Id uarte%EF%BF%BC_files/shapeimage_3.jpg> Leonardo Ffrench Iduarte

The predecessor of Juan Hernandez as Mexicos top consular officer

Translated from Spanish using Google

Considerations and concepts of Leonardo Ffrench Iduarte about Mexico, its bilateral relations with the American Union, the reality of migrants on this side of the Rio Grande, among other things for which I consulted in an interview undoubtedly enrich the thinking and seeing things among Mexicans in the United States.

Ffrench Iduarte has been a staff member of the Mexican Foreign Service career (SEM) from the first of October 1964. He is a civil engineer graduated from UNAM in 1962, with postgraduate studies at the University of Paris, France. As a worker in the service of the Mexican state came to retirement "after 37 years of uninterrupted" the first of January 2002.

The SEM was promoted to the rank of ambassador to Mexico on 21 March 1993. During his career he was seconded to the embassies of Mexico to Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Communities, and to the United States of America. He was consul general of Mexico in Denver, Colorado and Chicago, Illinois.

In Mexico has played in senior positions in several departments of the Federal Civil Service as the SRE, the SEP, the Interior Ministry, the Presidency of the Republic, UNAM and CONACYT, before retirement, the SRE served as Director of Communication Social and director of the Program for Mexican Communities Abroad.

But in addition to his diplomatic career and in the public sector, Ffrench Iduarte was political and cultural commentator on various sections of the original one state television program called Saturday's 13 and has published articles and lectured on various topics within and outside Mexico.

Don Leonardo currently lives in Cuernavaca, Morelos, where after retirement, our ambassador has worked as a consultant to private companies and public institutions primarily on the issue of migration, also is host of the radio titled Without Borders ACIR Group Morelos, (Mexico throughout the first devoted entirely to serve and inform the Mexican migrant population with family) is also a weekly commentator on another radio program, entitled Migrant Network, Bureau of Radio and Television Congress of Morelos. As of January 2008 is also coordinator of correspondents in the United States of Mexican Culture Seminar (SCM).

Contacted in recent days by the writer in search of an informal approach that would allow me to express their vision and thoughts here, in a brief and familiar at the outset I asked how was his diplomatic career.

And Don Leonardo, friendly, answered as one expected, in a plain and unpretentious manner.

He said: "The career as a member of the Mexican Foreign Service (SEM) is full, like most human activities, of chiaroscuro complex conditions. One of the major satisfactions is to promote the image and good name of Mexico in the world, serving his country from abroad where, in general, is more difficult.

"In return is the fact of living off the land of his birth one, where he most loved ones to whom one knew and with whom he lived as a child. But one should live with maximum flying his uncle the great writer Andres Iduarte from Tabasco, a professor at Columbia University in New York for 45 years: The important thing is not to live in Mexico but live in Mexico and for Mexico. Dishonor is to just live in Mexico. "

On some of their best (and worst) experiences Iduarte Ffrench ambassador noted that within the main satisfactions in his career "stands out for having contributed, and not with a grain of sand, to rescue from the death penalty (during his tenure as consul general in Chicago) to two compatriots who had received such a sentence. I omit their names to preserve their integrity and reputation.

It also points to have promoted during his tenure in Denver "approval by federal lawmakers in Colorado, by seven votes to one, and federal legislators Consulate entire constituency, by 22 votes to eight of the Free Trade North America (NAFTA). The NAFTA has done that since its entry into force on 1 January 1994, Mexico's foreign trade with the USA and Canada has grown exponentially. It is true that NAFTA has contributed to more equitable development of our country, but this is not the fault of NAFTA that was just a free trade agreement (as the name implies) and not a development agreement. Thanks to NAFTA has virtually disappeared 'national sport' called 'contraband or fayuca' ... Furthermore, the lack of a more equitable distribution of wealth in Mexico has been the fault of governments which have suffered "since pre 'and what we seem to be conformist Mexicans in general."

And "that rampant economic inequality," stated Don Leonardo, "the Mexicans have suffered from pre-Hispanic era to the apparent exception under the governments of Benito Juárez (1858-1872) and Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-1940), and I say 'apparent 'because I am not aware. "

What is your opinion of current Mexico-US bilateral relations, I asked.

"Bilateral relations between Mexico and the U.S. have traditionally been large, dynamic, complex and difficult, full of ups and downs throughout history.

"Today we seem to be on the mend thanks to the speech of U.S. President Barack Obama. We'll see if its promises and commitments translate into action.

"As weak part of the equation, our relationships often depend more on what is decided in Washington that what is desired in Mexico City" ... said my interlocutor.

"Ideally, as we have stated in their recent development plans of our country governments, Mexico should make every effort to diversify its relations with all world regions. The problem, in practice, is that the vast majority of Mexican entrepreneurs are very unadvanced and make little effort to export their products beyond North America and conform to our emigrants emigrate to the U.S., a country with which we share a common border of over three thousand miles, so concentrate 80% of our economic and migrating 98% of our compatriots. If diversify ourselves and politically
, economically, and culturally depend much less on what is decided in Washington DC, but the reality (or being) seems to always be imposed on the ideal (or must be), "he added.

You think that everyday has become part of the equation. Bilateral relations are asymmetric. The following query in the dialogue through e-mails was that with their expectations, what is the best place to live between two countries?, To which Don Leonardo replied: "The best scenario for relations between Mexico and USA will take place when there is overlap in approaches and political purposes of governments of both countries, and reflect the views of the majority of the inhabitants of the two countries. "

He stressed: "The government of President Obama will see the U.S. Congress approve immigration reform that allows the regularization of the vast majority of 6 to 7 million undocumented Mexican compatriots residing and working in the U.S. and contribute to economic, political cultural development of both the USA and of our country, suffering an unjust separation and family breakdown.

I asked what he thought of the cuurent situation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If you were Foreign Secretary, I said, what their dreams and hopes would seek to realize?

"If I had a chance to influence decisions and attitude of the governments of Mexico and the USA," added, that of Mexico would ask you stop to think of our emigrants as "ATM" cash machines and for the U.S. to stop seeing them as " Working Machines "productive, inexpensive and disposable. That both governments understand once and for all migrants from all origins are human beings who aspire to a better life and to be considered citizens with full rights and obligations wherever they are established.

As part of the reality of migration we asked his opinion, the expectations of Mexican immigrants in the United States in regard to his former department the Institute of Mexicans Abroad. He was Executive Director preceeding Juan Hernandez.

To which Don Leonardo, on time, said: "From the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (IME) of the SRE should not expect more than what Mexican immigrants need and demand to know. The day from the U.S. Mexicans send at least a million votes during the presidential elections in our country, that day the Mexican system (and understand government system, private sector and social sector) will take them seriously and try to match many of their demands. "

And in a broader context, our ambassador interviewed, made the following statement, "Finally, I venture to predict that due to the formation of" development blocks "in the world, as the Asian bloc and the European Union before many years it will be the North American Union in which Canada will contribute mainly raw materials or material resources, U.S. capital and technology or the financial and technological resources, and Mexico manpower or human resources. No wonder "and talk about" creating a common currency called the Amero and a North American security zone. It is also possible that, after the American Union is formed, it extends to every continent and establishing a Pan American Union, because we all need each other. "

"The important thing is not to live in Mexico but live in Mexico and for Mexico. To just say I live in Mexico without commiting to work for the betterment of Mexico is reprehensible "

Ambassador Ffrench's brother Leopoldo was a student at Rice University. He chose to immigrate and was naturalized as an American citizen. He was a supporter of NumbersUSA and the Minutemen. Here is Ambassador Ffrench's brothers comment on demands for "Comprehensive Immigration Reform": http://dailynightly.msnbc.com/2006/05/i ... n_day.html

ILLEGAL in the English language is ILEGAL in Spanish. Both mean NOT LEGAL -- not sanctioned by Law and, in fact AGAINST the Law. Even though the requirements of Immigration regulations are very onerous, they MUST be met prior to becoming LEGAL residents and, later on, if that is the objective, US citizens. ALL, ALL aliens who are now US citizens have gone through the process. WHY SHOULD THE CURRENT ILLEGALS BE GRANTED STATUS THAT THEY ARE NOT LEGALLY QUALIFIED TO HAVE?

OK. Is it ME? I have 2 degrees and I found it EXTREMELY confusing trying to get through this author's piece. The interspersed Mexicano verbiage only made for greater obfuscation (case-in-point= last sentance= "...I live in Mexico is reprehensible.")

Translated from Spanish using Google

The important thing is not to live in Mexico but live in Mexico and for Mexico. Dishonor is to just live in Mexico. "

This seems to be what they are doing living in American for the betterment of Mexico.

It seems that the ones left behind do dishonor Mexico, because they do nothing to change or improve it. In fact, the last 10 years has seen a massive invasion at least in my state, but the situation in Mexico has crumbled to a place unfit and unsafe to even visit.