Thread: Mexico's foreign secretary hoping to take border fence disp

Mexico's foreign secretary hoping to take border fence dispute with U.S. to U.N.
The Associated Press

Published: October 9, 2006
PARIS Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez on Monday held out the possibility of taking a dispute over U.S. plans to build a fence on the Mexican border to the United Nations or some other international body before leaving office in December.

Speaking in Paris, the first stop on a European tour, Derbez said a legal investigation was under way to determine whether Mexico has a case.

"Once the analysis is done, if we find the right elements are there, of course we will proceed," he told reporters following a meeting with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy. He vowed to "work till the very last day" of President Vincente Fox's mandate, which ends in less than two months.

Derbez said he did not know whether President-elect Felipe Calderon, who is to take office Dec. 1, will press forward with the legal analysis.

Calderon, who belongs to the governing PAN party, last week criticized the recent U.S. legislation authorizing the construction of a 700-mile (more than 1,100-kilometer) fence meant to stop illegal immigrants from entering the United States. However, he also has said the case is a bilateral issue that should not be put before the international community.

Derbez said it was a "shame" that U.S. immigration policy had been used for what he claimed was a short-term political gain in the lead-up to midterm elections in the United States in November.

The U.S. Senate approved the bill last month and President George W. Bush has said he will sign it into law — despite last-minute pleas from the Mexican government for a veto.

"What should be constructed is a bridge in relations between the two countries," Derbez said.

He said he had discussed the issue in the meeting with France's foreign minister and planned to bring it up in meetings with his Spanish and Italian counterparts during visits to Madrid and Rome.


PARIS Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez on Monday held out the possibility of taking a dispute over U.S. plans to build a fence on the Mexican border to the United Nations or some other international body before leaving office in December.

Speaking in Paris, the first stop on a European tour, Derbez said a legal investigation was under way to determine whether Mexico has a case.

"Once the analysis is done, if we find the right elements are there, of course we will proceed," he told reporters following a meeting with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy. He vowed to "work till the very last day" of President Vincente Fox's mandate, which ends in less than two months.

Derbez said he did not know whether President-elect Felipe Calderon, who is to take office Dec. 1, will press forward with the legal analysis.

Calderon, who belongs to the governing PAN party, last week criticized the recent U.S. legislation authorizing the construction of a 700-mile (more than 1,100-kilometer) fence meant to stop illegal immigrants from entering the United States. However, he also has said the case is a bilateral issue that should not be put before the international community.

Derbez said it was a "shame" that U.S. immigration policy had been used for what he claimed was a short-term political gain in the lead-up to midterm elections in the United States in November.

The U.S. Senate approved the bill last month and President George W. Bush has said he will sign it into law — despite last-minute pleas from the Mexican government for a veto.

"What should be constructed is a bridge in relations between the two countries," Derbez said.

He said he had discussed the issue in the meeting with France's foreign minister and planned to bring it up in meetings with his Spanish and Italian counterparts during visits to Madrid and Rome.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/ ... _Fence.php

It would seem that Mexico does not feel that we hav4e a right to our own country!! It's time for Bush to tell Mexico to mind their on damn business!!