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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 4, 2002
Governor Ridge Speaks at Embassy in Mexico
Remarks by Homeland Security Director, Governor Tom Ridge
United States Embassy Mexico City, Mexico
Good afternoon.
I am very pleased to be here again and
feel very much privileged to be part of an effort that is so
important to the countries of the
United States and Mexico. President
Bush on many, many occasions has stressed to me just how
important the relationship is between our two neighbors. Six
months ago, tomorrow, he stood together with President Fox
at the White House and said it very directly and very
plainly: We have no relationship in the world that is more
important that the one with Mexico. He talked about the ties
of "commerce, culture and kinship" that unite
us. And President Fox talked about the mutual respect that
is, and must be, at the core of this partnership.
It is also nearly six months since
September 11. The events of that day have compelled us to
come to grips with critically important new priorities.
These new challenges underscore
the continuing importance of our relationship with Mexico and together,
our relationship with our other democratic partners in
this hemisphere. That is the essence
of why I am here today. President Bush
has asked me to come talk with
your leaders and consider steps we can take together to make
our societies and countries not only safer, but also stronger, better
and more prosperous.
Together, we will find better ways
to combat international terrorism. More broadly, we will
find better ways of protecting the important human and economic
interests at the heart of the U.S. - Mexican
ties. We have a remarkable
demographic relationship and one of the most dynamic and modern
trading relationships in the world
today. And so much of these hinges on the way we manage the
long border that joins our two countries.
Speaking frankly, our
relationship long ago outpaced both our border
infrastructure and our approaches to border
management. We're trying to serve
and enhance a 21st century
relationship with an old intellectual and physical approach to our
borders.
It is vital to both countries that we move
beyond this. That we embrace technology. That we
take advantage of the growing trust and opportunity in this
relationship and that we find ways to make our border
more secure, more efficient, and more friendly to the legal traffic --
both people and goods.
We certainly have some ideas on specific steps that could start
this process and
are eager to hear the views of
our Mexican counterparts. I am here with a highly talented
team of senior U.S. officials:
Amb. Otto Reich, Assistant Secretary of State for Western
Hemisphere Affairs
Amb. Frank Taylor, Secretary Powell's top official for
counterterrorism
Amb. Mary Ryan, Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs
Judge Robert Bonner, United States Commissioner of Customs
INS Commissioner Jim Ziglar
Amb. John Maisto, President Bush's special assistant for Western
Hemisphere
Affairs
These officials have already been working very hard with their
Mexican counterparts on these challenges. These challenges
are associated with the creation of a smart, user-friendly 21st century
border.
I'm personally most grateful to President Fox
and his administration. They've greatly extended
themselves during our days here with planning and preparations
and accommodations. They certainly are looking
forward to meet and discussing these issues with President, with
Secretary Creel, Secretary Castaneda, Attorney General Macedo,
Secretary Vega, Secretary Peyrot, and Secretary Gertz.
I am anxious to learn how the
Mexican government believes we can move this
extremely important process along. Since I am here at
the direction of
President Bush, I will be reporting
back to him upon my return to the States.
And I know he is very eager to
continue this dialogue with President Fox when they meet in Monterrey
later this month. Thank you.