Thread: Q&A with President Fox

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... ng-ON.html


Email this article Click to send
Print this article Choose File Print or Ctrl P or Apple P
Most popular pages Today | This Week


Q&A with President Fox

Jun. 20, 2006 12:41 PM


This interview was conducted with Mexican President Vicente Fox on June 9. Most of the questions came from Arizona Republic readers. In some cases, The Republic added follow-up questions. The interview was conducted in Spanish and translated into English by The Republic.



"In your own words, can you explain to the American people why your presidency and party have not been able to provide a stable work environment for your countrymen?" - James Christopher King, Phoenix



Pushing a process of growing economic development and job creation is a complex and difficult affair that requires many resources and efforts. Mexico has always tried to develop its people; nobody can deny that. However, errors made, the corruption of the past and the past lack of democracy many times foiled those efforts at growth and job creation.

The recurring crises, the great devaluations, the bankruptcies and the inflation were obstacles for development. But this has changed. We have changed the foundation of Mexican development since the democracy that Mexicans achieved on July 2, 2000 (Fox's election).

Now we have a strong economy. We have an economy with the best fundamentals in its entire history. Now we have an economy with indicators equal to the United States. In fact, Mexico has an inflation rate lower than the United States. It has an interest rate that is the same as the United States - except that we now have a balanced budget, something that the United States does not have. Mexico has built a powerful economy of manufacturing, services and tourism.

I'm very optimistic that, from now on, we are going to be able to meet our obligation of generating jobs. I understand very clearly that Mexico's obligation is to generate jobs for its own people here in Mexico, and I can assure you that the economy is growing very well: 5.5 percent in the first quarter, 450,000 new jobs in the first months of the year. Without a doubt, at the end of the year we will have created almost a million new jobs. Finally, at this moment there is a shortage of 100,000 jobs on the Mexican side of the border. All the companies are looking for workers.

So Mexico's problem is not creating jobs, it's having trained people to occupy those jobs. Education, teaching, training will become vital to fill those jobs.



"Why don't you take stronger measures to remove the corruption and lawlessness in your country?" - "Bren" (submitted via the "Plugged In" blog on azcentral.com)



We have taken stronger measures (against crime). We have earmarked the biggest budget in history to those issues. Nevertheless, we have a severe problem in certain focused regions and cities.

It's not true that there is insecurity in the entire country. Most of the country is calm, peaceful and enjoys crime rates equivalent to any city in the United States. I can point to cities like Monterrey, Guanajuato, Guadalajara, Mérida, Tuxtla Gutiérrez and many other cities where things are calm.

What's the challenge? The challenge is organized crime, and that organized crime is generated by the enormous (drug) market in the United States. So we, the U.S. and Mexican governments, have established that it is a shared responsibility. The Americans consume, and we pay the price in Mexico, because the money that is generated in that enormous drug-consumption market in the United States is used in Mexico to bribe police and public officials.

So Mexico has to do its part, that's clear. And fortunately we are working very closely with U.S. law enforcement agencies like the DEA, the CIA, the drug control office, the attorney general and many others with which we work very closely.



And as far as corruption?



OK, corruption. I'm going to give you three measures that we have taken that will ensure that corruption will soon diminish in the federal government.

One, the Law of Transparency and Access to Information. Today everything that the federal government does is known. Because of that, there is no opportunity for corruption in the government bidding process. No matter what they say in the (presidential) campaign or in the campaign debate, it's false.

Two, the Civil Servant Law, which along with ISO 9000 certification (International Standards Organization's quality requirements in government-to-business dealings) for the entire federal government, gives us a certain advantage against corruption.

Three, all contracts and all government purchases are public. They're on the Internet. They're announced publicly. The general public and businesses participate in all important contracts. Transparency International and many other institutions participate. So it is no longer possible for a contract to fall into the wrong hands in Mexico.

Now, on the local, state and municipal level, there continue to be high rates of corruption. As far as the "mordita," the pay-off to the policeman or to the clerk at the counter, we have to continue creating a strong culture to end that.



"If an American tried to stage a protest or a demonstration in your country, he would be arrested. I personally think it's unfair that thousands of your illegal immigrants who come to my country and break our laws can protest here. {ellipsis} Why do you think that it's OK for your people to come here and disrespect our laws?" - Andrew Gallagher, Phoenix.



Well, the question is mistaken, because we didn't give any direct help or support to the marches or the marchers. Of course, we made it clear that freedom of expression, the freedom to march, the freedom to express yourself, is an essential part of any democracy. So we recognize the rights of those who demonstrate within their democratic rights, and we would recognize anyone who does in the future.



So, foreigners can demonstrate in Mexico?



Of course, as long as it's done within the law.

Even though we agree and support any democratic effort of expression, at the same time we do not participate directly (in the United States). Our consulates did not participate directly (in the U.S. marches). In fact, they tried to persuade people to stay at work that day.

We understand very well the message that was sent. You shouldn't wave Mexican flags because it could be misinterpreted by the American public. And actually, we tried to get people not to do that.

That was a civic expression by many American citizens - many documented immigrants who are American citizens - who exercised their rights and showed their feelings about the importance of approving the immigration reform law. That's the important thing. The important thing is that we are all trying to resolve the migration issue in a positive and intelligent way.



So anyone can demonstrate the same way in Mexico?



As long as they're not breaking the law.



"Mexican citizens are dying crossing the border. Why doesn't Mexico put forces along the border at those dangerous points of illegal entry that lead to the deaths of its own citizens?" - Bob Haran, Phoenix



You have to go deeper. You have to understand the migration issue, and the United States should understand it better than anyone.

The United States is a nation of migrants. The settlers of Arizona, many of them came from England or France, mainly, and then they came from Poland, and now they are coming from India and China. It is a country of migrants, and you have to understand that. Repression and the use of force is not the way to resolve the migration issue.

I believe that the United States is going to give an example to the world of how to remove and deal with the issue of migration: with laws, with rules, with order, with legality, with complete respect for human rights, with complete respect for people's dignity. You don't resolve this issue with force.



But could your Mexican forces keep people from crossing?



Absolutely not. In Mexican territory, the right of free travel and movement of any citizen is respected. We don't interfere or put up obstacles. We can't, under the constitution.



Are Mexican legislators deliberately ignoring your economic and political reforms because they know they have the "safety valve" of sending workers north to the United States?



I completely reject that affirmation, and I can say on behalf of the Mexican government - I don't represent the Senate or the Chamber of Deputies - but as far as the executive branch, my highest priority is creating jobs and creating opportunities for Mexicans.

Mexicans want to stay home. They have been forced to leave because of the lack of opportunities. They prefer to eat tacos over eating hot dogs. They prefer to eat tortas rather than hamburgers. So they don't want to go over there. It's their circumstances that force them.

The government of President Fox has not been irresponsible as far as that goes. We are working hard to create jobs. But I would also ask the United States, "What would Los Angeles do without Mexicans?" I heard someone tell the governor of Washington that there would be no Washington apples if it weren't for the Mexicans who work there. And I'm sure the same things could be said in Arizona.

So let's make migration a positive thing. There's the case of the U.S. auto industry, which loses more and more market share and loses more and more jobs to China and Europe. And its solution is very reasonable: it's an understanding that if Canada, the United States and Mexico join forces, those companies will be competitive again and they will create jobs.

To those who oppose the issue of migration, I would like to say that Mexico and the United States are partners today. We buy more than $200 billion in (U.S.) products and merchandise. And I would ask the United States, "How many jobs does that represent?" Thousands and thousands of U.S. jobs are created by what Mexico buys.

Not only that, but Mexico alone buys more from the United States than Italy, France, Germany and Britain together. Whoever thinks that we aren't partners is misinformed and is not seeing the reality of the free trade agreement and the partnership for security and prosperity between Mexico and the United States.



"Why does President Fox push for Mexican citizens to illegally immigrate into the United States when Mexico has extreme punishments for immigrating illegally into Mexico?" - Donna May, Tempe

Let's look at the case of (Mexico's) southern border. Last year 250,000 Central American migrants crossed illegally. We detained them; we treated them well. We gave them shelter, food and medicine, and we sent them back. So Mexico has seen both sides of migration. There are Mexicans who migrate to the United States and Central Americans who migrate to Mexico.



But doesn't Mexico treat illegal immigrants more harshly than the United States treats Mexican illegal immigrants?



We try to deal with this issue with complete respect for human rights. Nevertheless, we receive complaints from Central American countries that there are violations of migrants' human rights. We have to work very hard to eliminate this problem.

Now, what does Mexico do that I would like to see the United States do? We launched a project called Puebla-Panama, which is a program of regional development to encourage economic growth and jobs in Central America. We are seeing gigantic investments in highway infrastructure, education, health and in many other areas to create jobs there. We have just put into motion the Central American Energy Initiative, which Mexico promoted, to create a large refinery and a great gas pipeline, to create a large power plant with the ultimate purpose of having an impact on the development of Central American economies and the creation of jobs. It's a $10 billion investment.

So Mexico is concerned not only with creating jobs in Mexico, it's concerned with creating jobs as far away as Panama. We're working with Central American nations toward that. So let no one say that Mexico isn't making a real effort in the area of jobs.



"Do you feel a joint U.S.-Mexico economic development effort for economic growth in Mexico is a viable option for curbing illegal immigration of Mexican residents into the United States?" - Roger Legge, Glendale



Of course, absolutely. And a good part of that is being done with the (2005) Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America. The United States and Mexico are working together to develop investment, to develop small and medium-size businesses, to develop the housing industry.

Furthermore, if we used the money that was being used to build walls and utilize the National Guard on the border, that money would create more than enough jobs in Mexico.

I'm going to add something here that I think is very important. The last Mexican census in 2005 shows a rate of population growth of only 1 percent annually. We no longer are growing at 3.5 percent, just 1 percent per year. In 10 years maximum, we are going to be using all of our work energy and all the strength of our youth to support our retirees. The transformation of the population pyramid in Mexico is happening very quickly. We've gone from a population of young people to a population of adults.

The United States also has a population of adults, many retirees who must be supported with a young, productive, quality workforce. In 10 years they're going to be looking for people to work picking apples and vegetables, gardening the golf courses, working as nurses to take care of the retirees, and many other activities. Because of that, the smartest thing for our U.S.-Mexico relationship is to partner up, to work together.

Today, I see more and more NAFTA companies, as I call them, who have one foot in Mexico, one in Canada and one in the United States. And they're doing very well. Those companies compete, not only in the NAFTA market, but with the entire world.

Making partnerships, working together is the best way. Today on the Mexican side of the border, a worker makes $4 an hour. But Mexico is making progress in better salaries and in more jobs. Like I said, soon Mexico will absorb all of its human resources.



Why has illegal immigration continued if NAFTA is working?



I've more or less been explaining that through my answers. But I already said that having an economy with complete employment is very complicated. When you have a border with a country that is the most developed on earth, while Mexico still developing, while Mexico has a minimum wage of $4.50, when you have the opportunity to earn money in another country, you do it.

How many Americans are there working in Asia, in Africa, in Latin America, everywhere? It's because they want to improve their conditions, because they want to earn more money for their families, because they want to make a career for themselves. Because of that, I say that under these circumstances, migration is not only inevitable, it's something that strengthens the economies of the world. So what we need is management of migration that is orderly, legal and guarantees the rights of the migrants.



What do you plan to do after leaving office?



Ride horses in Arizona, and give speeches.

Email this article Click to send
Print this article Choose File Print or Ctrl P or Apple P
Most popular pages Today | This Week

After reading this farce of an interview I had to wear my boots as it got so deep. When Fox speaks it's as if you are watching his brother (Bush) as they both speak from the same side of their mouths. And you can bet when he is retired he will be helping LaRaza and Mecha further their agenda of recoquinsta as he will have a guest room in the Bush ranch in Crawford with plenty of help from his brother.

I read this interview with Vinny Fox and all I can say is blah! blah! blah! and BS galore! What a freeloader and parasite Fox is.