May 30, 2008

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I would like to take a few moments to share with you my thoughts on the status of the Merida Initiative. As you know, in the past two weeks, both houses of Congress in the United States passed bills that include funding for expanding U.S.-Mexico cooperation in the battle against illegal drug cartels. Although there remains much work to be done on this legislation, majorities in both the House and Senate demonstrated their strong consensus that the threat represented by these organizations is not Mexico’s to confront alone.

We all know that drugs, weapons and other illicit goods plague both Mexico and the United States. Innocent people are killed as cartels fight for territory in Mexico and drug gangs fight for turf in the inner cities of the United States. Drug addiction destroys families on both sides of the border. Criminals target law enforcement officers and erode security in both of our countries. The huge profits of this illicit trade are used to undermine rule of law in both countries. The drug trade feeds the appetite for narcotics in the United States and creates demand for weapons in Mexico. It is a shared problem, and it must have a shared solution.

The Merida Initiative was developed in recognition of our responsibility to address the problem of narcotics trafficking and the U.S.’s desire to accept that responsibility and to deepen cooperation with Mexico and Central America to fight this common threat.

As the U.S. Congress considers the initiative, congressional members have expressed differences of opinion about how best to achieve victory in the fight against the drug cartels. For example, the House bill recommended $400 million for Mexico, with an additional $61.5 million for Central America. In addition, a separate House authorizing bill instructs the U.S. Government to intensify efforts to stem the flow of precursor chemicals, bulk cash, and the so-called “iron-river” of arms illegally flowing south.

Alternatively, the Senate version recommended $350 million for Mexico, with an additional $100 million for Central America. Both houses included language about oversight which has understandably been the subject of discussion here in Mexico.

Both the House and Senate versions require the U.S. government to address Mexico’s concerns about the flow of arms into Mexico and the significant demand for illicit drugs in the United States. And each body has asked for updates on efforts in Mexico to prevent human rights abuses by security forces engaged in battling the drug cartels, among other issues.

I want to emphasize that these congressional requests for information and analysis are part of the oversight process that our Congress routinely exercises over our own Executive Branch – a normal part of our policy dialogue in the U.S., and not a demand that the U.S. “certify” Mexico’s behavior or performance in any way shape or form.

I am confident that our two governments will be able to work cooperatively and share information on the substantial progress being made by both of our countries, working separately and together, in the battle against illegal narcotics trafficking.

It is important to recognize that we are in the middle of a legislative process and there remain additional opportunities for discussion and input which can then be integrated into the final proposal. It is also critical to note that Congress is debating the first of what we expect to be several installments of a multi-year Merida Initiative commitment totaling $1.4 billion dollars.

Just this week we witnessed a four-hour shootout in Culiacán, Sinaloa between Federal Police and Sinaloa Cartel members that left seven federal police dead and four others injured. This has been the single largest blow dealt to security forces so far. In the face of this violence, we must renew and reinforce our efforts, which is why the Merida Initiative is so important.

This multiyear, multi-country program will enhance U.S., Mexican, and Central American enforcement capabilities and expand regional cooperation. The Merida Initiative will support Mexico with the material and technical advantages it needs to undermine these criminal organizations. The initiative includes: inspection equipment and canine teams used to identify drugs, bulk cash and arms in vehicles and cargo; helicopters and surveillance aircraft; various technologies to modernize Mexico’s investigative capabilities; police training; technical assistance for civil society; and support for improving administration of justice and rule of law. By sharing standards and developing common procedures, our common efforts will be more successful in challenging the threat from criminals operating across borders.

Mexico and the United States share many things as neighbors. We share common values as well as a border. And we share the challenges associated with drug trafficking. We must also share in the solution.

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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