February 29, 2008

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

On Wednesday and Thursday of this past week, I joined U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and their Mexican and Canadian counterparts in Los Cabos for a Ministerial meeting of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP). Back in 2005, President Bush and the leaders of Canada and Mexico launched the SPP to increase security and prosperity in North America through enhanced cooperation in order to face common challenges and opportunities. The SPP is based on the principle that our common prosperity depends on our common security, and that our three great nations are bound by a shared belief in freedom, economic opportunity and strong democratic institutions.

Joining us at this meeting were partners from the private sector of our three countries who, as members of the North American Competitiveness Council, have provided our governments with invaluable contributions and advice in building a more prosperous and dynamic North America.

The purpose of this Ministerial gathering was to prepare for the April 21-22 SPP North American Leaders’ Summit to be hosted by President Bush in New Orleans. During this gathering, the participants discussed how to focus our efforts to achieve concrete results to further our SPP initiatives which will enhance the quality of life and security for all our citizens in our three countries.

Specifically, the Ministers directed their government officials to implement the North American strategy to combat piracy and counterfeiting to improve competitiveness. They recommended building on previous regulatory cooperation with a focus on enhancing the competitiveness of the North American automotive sector. They also counseled their governments to strengthen cooperation to better identify, assess and manage unsafe food and products before they enter North America. The Ministers stressed that our borders must be more efficient and secure if we are to continue to enhance prosperity, security and overall quality of life in North America. They reviewed recent progress and directed officials to further strengthen cooperation to secure our common borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade.

The SPP shows how greater cooperation and coordination benefits all our countries. We will continue to move forward on making North America a safe, secure, economically dynamic and competitive player in global markets. It was a great honor to be part of this gathering and to view firsthand the progress towards achieving our ultimate shared goal of making North America the best place to live, work and do business.

Click here to read the Joint Statement by SPP Ministers in Los Cabos

Overall, the month of February was an extremely productive time for Mission Mexico, focused on both the prosperity and security of Mexico and the United States.

On February 27, in Mexico City, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez and I participated in the U.S. and Mexico: Building Partnerships in Infrastructure Conference. This three day conference, held February 26-28, was sponsored by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the U.S. Commercial Service to promote U.S.-Mexican business partnerships in order to implement the projects envisioned under President Calderon’s National Infrastructure Plan. This event received excellent support from the Mexican government, including four Mexican Secretaries -- Secretary of Communications and Transport Luis Tellez, Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources Rafael Elvira, Secretary of Energy Georgina Kessel, Secretary of the Economy Eduardo Sojo -- who participated in the opening plenary session. Over 350 participants including over 200 U.S. and Mexican businesses took part in this successful gathering. Five TDA grants, focusing on airports, water and environmental improvements, totaling over USD$1.7 million were signed at this venue. Over 300 one-on-one meetings between U.S. firms and Mexican project sponsors were achieved during this short period of time. I look forward to hearing about the many business partnerships that are created as a result of this conference, partnerships that will continue to support the prosperity pillar of our U.S.-Mexico relationship.

Click here to read the Ambassador's remarks at the Conference Plenary Session

In Cancun, on February 26-29, representatives of Mexico’s judicial system, the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property and the National Copyright Institute held the International Judicial Forum on Intellectual Property, with support from the private sector and the U.S. Embassy.

On February 25-26, the Program on Entrepreneurial Growth (PEG) Symposium, a collaborative effort of the Kaufman Foundation, the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness (IMCO) and the U.S. Department of Commerce, took place in Toluca, bringing together Mexican and U.S. entrepreneurs, educators and policy makers to discuss the promotion of entrepreneurship in Mexico.

On February 25, I inaugurated the 7th National Convention of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico. At this important event, I shared how I have watched the U.S.–Mexico partnership evolve into a more mature, equal partnership, one that President Bush has said is as ”rich as it is complex,” and how our challenges are bringing us closer together because Mexicans and Americans share the same concern about our economies and the impact of crime and violence on both sides of our border. Truly what we are witnessing is a remarkable convergence of values, which include a commitment to democracy, rule of law and prosperity for all our citizens.

Click here to read the full text of the Ambassador's remarks at the AmCham

On February 13, the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara's Commercial Service hosted the Doing Business with the United States conference. Over 450 U.S. and Mexican companies attended this event to promote ever-important U.S.-Mexico commercial ties.

The largest travel and tourism show in Mexico, Expo Vacaciones, took place in Mexico City on February 11-13 to promote U.S. travel and tourism destinations and service companies. I had the pleasure of announcing the winner of the fifth annual SeeAmerica Travel Writer Award, Alicia Boy, who won for her article “Oregon: los frutos de otoño,” published in Mujer-Es Banorte.

Click here to read the Ambassador's remarks at Expo Vacaciones

On February 5-8, we started out the month in Manzanillo with a successful Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Seminar hosted by the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara and attended by members of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property, the Mexican Attorney General’s Office, Mexican federal investigations agencies and Mexican customs agents.

Lastly, at the American Chamber Convention, on February 25, I made mention of the Cuban people. I feel strongly that they should be given an opportunity to begin a process of peaceful, democratic change -- and to live in freedom -- where governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed, and not the whims of a dictator, or the legacy of five decades of tyranny.

The United States and Mexico are experiencing the prosperity and security that follow from democracy and free markets. It is tragic that the Cuban people, living so close to our two freedom-loving countries, are still denied these same opportunities. As Secretary Rice has stated, we believe that the Cuban people have an inalienable right to participate in an open and comprehensive dialogue about their country’s future, free of fear and repression, and to choose their leaders in democratic elections.

The international community has a role to play in working with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions necessary for democracy and to support Cuban civil society. After 50 years of stagnation, it is time for the Cuban government to take the necessary steps toward progress by releasing all political prisoners, respecting human rights, and paving the way to free and fair multi-party elections.

Click here to read Secretary Rice’s Statement on Cuba’s Transition

As always, I appreciate the opportunity to share with you information about the important bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States. May God bless both our great nations.

Sincerely,

Antonio O. Garza, Jr.

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