STATE OF THE MEXICAN UNION with journalist MICHAEL STOTT April 29, 1997

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Other questions asked in this forum: Does The United States have the right to certify or decertify anyone? Will the new Mexican drug agency remain free from corruption? Should the U.S. be thinking more about the problem of demand instead of supply from Mexico? Is an environmental disaster occurring quietly in Mexico? Will a new ambassador change U.S.-Mexican relations? What is being accomplished by President Clinton's and President Zedillo's trips? NewsHour Links February 27, 1997: Charles Krause interviews Sen. Diane Feinstein about her opposition to re-certifying Mexico. Oct. 4, 1996: Charles Krause analyzes EPR rebels attacks and their potential impact on the future stability of Mexico . Sept. 13, 1996: Learn about EPR activities in Mexico in an Online Forum with NewsHour foreign correspondent Charles Krause. March 20, 1996: An interview with Columbia's President Samper, discussing his country's decertification as an ally with the U.S. in it's war on drugs. The complete NewsHour coverage of Latin America. EXTERNAL LINKS A Map of Mexico Inter-American Development Bank Senator Dianne Feinstein's press releases about Mexico.

Maureen Matten of Boston, MA asks: How will a new U.S. ambassador to Mexico change current relations between the neighboring countries? If Governor Weld is appointed, how will he be received? Michael Stott responds: Most diplomats and political analysts here feel a new ambassador is unlikely to mean any major changes in relations between the two countries. Mexico and the U.S. have a very close government-to-government working relationship, with numerous cabinet-level contacts directly made between the two sides. This means that the U.S. ambassador is not the only conduit for relations, nor necessarily is he the most important. The broad outlines of policy -- promoting greater trade and business, closer ties, more cooperation on everything from fighting drugs to cleaning up the environment -- are well defined and unlikely to change at the present time. Mexican newspapers have reported the stories about Gov. Weld's rumoured appointment as ambassador here with comment saying that he speaks some Spanish (seen as a plus here, since the current ambassador speaks little Spanish) and that he has experience of anti-corruption issues. Continue to the next question...

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