Online NewsHour: U.S.-Mexico Relations -- May 5, 1997



	U.S.-MEXICO RELATIONS

May 5, 1997

For the first time in 20 years a U.S. president is visiting Mexico. In a Newsmaker interview, Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo talks to Charles Krause about the visit, after this background report.

The Online NewsHour's Coverage of Politics in Mexico

Nov. 8, 1999:
A look at the practice of "el dedazo."

Oct. 21, 1999:
Flood victims blame corrupt zoning codes for deaths.

Jan. 12, 1999:
Crime waves threaten the popularity of Mexico City's mayor.

Aug. 12, 1997:
Cuauhtemoc Cardenas becomes mayor-elect of Mexico City.

Sept. 3, 1997:
An examination of Mexico's war on drugs.

July 25, 1997:
A Newsmaker interview with President Ernesto Zedillo

July 15, 1997:
Changes in Mexico's political power.

July 7, 1997:
Opposition parties gain ground on the PRI.

May 5, 1997:
President Ernesto Zedillo on relations with the U.S.

May 1, 1997:
President Clinton announces trip to Mexico.

April 29, 1997:
An Online Forum with journalist Michael Stott on Mexico's drug war.

Feb. 28, 1997:
The U.S. recertifies Mexico as "helpful" in war on drugs.

Feb. 27, 1997:
Mexico and drug trafficking.

Oct. 4, 1996:
Rebel army revolts against the President Zedillo's reforms.

Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Latin America

Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

National Action Party (PAN)

Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD)

Latin American resources from the University of Texas

Mexican media guide from the University of Texas

The U.S. State Department's Office of Mexican Affairs

Articles on Mexican politics by political scientist Jorge Castaneda

Documents on Mexican Politics

A PBS "Frontline" Special on corruption during the Salinas presidency

CHARLES KRAUSE: Ernesto Zedillo is a 46-year-old economist trained at Yale, who had little political experience before an assassination thrust him into Mexico's presidency three years ago. Since then he and President Clinton have met three times, most recently at the White House three years ago, and reportedly, the two men have forged a good working relationship.

zedillo clinton PRESIDENT CLINTON: Mr. President, the bonds between our nations have never been stronger or more important. Over the last decade and with renewed vitality since you took office, Mexico has embarked upon a course of political and economic transformation.
zedillo CHARLES KRAUSE: In a country where political corruption is a serious problem the Clinton administration views Zedillo as both politically and intellectually honest. On the other side, Zedillo and his administration view Clinton as a friend, who has been willing to take risks on Mexico's behalf, most notably, Mr. Clinton's risky decision to create an emergency, $50 billion bailout package for Mexico in February 1995. Zedillo was extremely grateful because at the height of Mexico's peso crisis the package forestalled the country's economic collapse.
clinton zedillo PRESIDENT ZEDILLO: (speaking through interpreter) President Clinton, the international leadership, vision, and courage you have displayed prevented the crisis from becoming a systemic problem of world scope.
CHARLES KRAUSE: But the rescue package came with tough conditions. Mexico was thrown into deep recession. And by the end of 1995, the peso had lost fully half its value, and hundreds of thousands of Mexican workers had lost their jobs. Faced with growing opposition Zedillo toured the country urging patience as Mexico's per capita income and standard of living continued to fall. But by last year as Zedillo predicted, the economy began to recover. And in January of this year, President Clinton was able to announce the Mexico had repaid with interest all the money it had borrowed from the United States.

NAFTA and trade relations

clinton PRESIDENT CLINTON: Two years ago helping our friend and neighbor in a time of need was quite controversial. Some said that we should not get involved; that the money would never be repaid; that Mexico should fend for itself. They were wrong.

CHARLES KRAUSE: But the era of good feeling was to last no more than a couple of months. Just as the bailout and the impact of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement, were receding as issues in the United States, illegal immigration, other problems along the border, and especially drugs emerged as major problems, further complicating the overall relationship. Last December, Zedillo appointed Gen. Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo to head Mexico's drug enforcement agency, then sent him to Washington, where he was praised publicly by his counterpart, U.S. drug czar General Barry McCaffrey.
GEN. BARRY McCAFFREY: Gen. Gutierrez Rebollo has a reputation of being an honest man who is a no-nonsense field commander of the Mexican army.
CHARLES KRAUSE: McCaffrey's word became a major embarrassment when Gutierrez Rebollo was arrested in February, charged with taking payoffs from the very drug traffickers he was supposed to be fighting. The general's arrest created a furor in Washington, but members of Congress argued Mexico should be decertified as a trustworthy partner in the war on drugs.
RICHARD GEPHARDT, House Minority Leader: There's simply no justification for certifying Mexico as an ally in this fight.
zedillo CHARLES KRAUSE: But once again President Clinton came to Mexico's rescue. Not only did the President certify that Mexico is cooperating, he beat back decertification forces in Congress. Last week, Zedillo lashed out at those critical of Mexico, calling Congress xenophobic and beholden to special interests. Our interview with the president took place late last week at Los Pinos, the magnificent compound in Mexico City that is both his official home and office.