November 21, 2007

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I’m sure you have been reading and following the news about the Merida Initiative, an effort born out of the meetings between President Bush and President Calderon in Mexico last March. This proposal represents a fundamental shift in strengthening our strategic partnership and is a product of our already strong cooperative efforts in the battle against narcotraffickers.

This initiative has sparked the interest of members of Congress in both the U.S. and Mexico who have been energetically discussing this issue in what I feel is a constructive and positive manner. In an effort to continue this important dialogue, next week on November 28, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will lead a U.S. Congressional delegation of six additional senators to Mexico to meet with Mexican legislators, officials, NGOs and teachers. This is further evidence of the strong bi-national relationship Mexico and the U.S. enjoy at all levels of our respective governments.

To bring you up to date, on October 22, President Bush proposed the single most aggressive undertaking ever to combat Mexican drug cartels and the associated violence they pose to citizens in both the U.S. and Mexico. In a phone call to President Calderon, President Bush shared that he was moving forward on a Congressional request for $500 million as part of a $1.4 billion program to fund security cooperation with Mexico, and $50 million to confront the same narco-trafficking dangers in Central America. President Bush has stressed that all countries in the region, including the United States, have a shared responsibility to put an end to the crime and violence that plague our citizens. In Mexico, President Calderon’s administration has demonstrated an unprecedented commitment to combat drug trafficking and associated violence in Mexico. If approved by Congress, these funds will support the procurement of additional tools, training and techniques to defeat organized crime and transnational threats. Cooperation and coordination across our borders will allow us to combine our strengths by working together and to stand united against our security challenges.

Click on the following o read the testimony of Thomas A. Shannon, Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs, before the Senate Committee On Foreign Relations and House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Click here to read U.S. Congressional responses on the Merida Initiative:

On October 29, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte and Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Thomas A. Shannon, arrived in Mexico City on an official two-day visit to meet with Mexican government officials, community leaders, and members of the media. Their visit came during a historic moment in the U.S.-Mexico partnership, and generated broader discussions on the Merida Initiative to increase security on both sides of our shared border.

To read press remarks made by Deputy Secretary Negroponte while in Mexico, click here:

Illustrative of the daunting challenges we face, on November 1, in Manzanillo, Mexico, a historic seizure of more than 23.5 tons of cocaine doubled the previous record set in October in Tamaulipas. This accomplishment also clearly demonstrates President Calderon’s commitment to cripple drug lords and bring them to justice. Along with my colleagues in the U.S. law enforcement community, I commend the Calderon administration, including PGR, SSP, SEDENA, Marina, and Customs, who have shown their steadfast dedication and courage in the face of daily assaults by drug lords. Our persistent bilateral cooperation is the key to many recent victories, and will lead to further successes against organized crime.

To read more about these seizures, click here:

On a more somber note, since the beginning of November, we have all been watching the devastating effects of the flooding in Tabasco and Chiapas on our television screens. Americans know only too well the horrible impact such natural disasters have on the lives of individuals and communities, and we remain committed, along with the international community, to provide assistance to our neighbors. On November 9, my wife Mariasun and I visited the flood zone and saw first hand both the extent of the damage, as well as the bravery and tremendous efforts of the people stricken by the floodwaters. Last week, on November 16, the government of the United States approved an additional $1.7 million dollars, totaling over $2.1 million dollars, to continue to cooperate with the government of Mexico in providing immediate emergency support to the people of this region. Echoing the sentiments expressed by President Bush and President Calderon in their November 5 telephone call, the U.S. and Mexico remain committed to the far-reaching, close and cooperative bilateral relationship between neighbors and friends, who share not only co-responsibility confronting problems, but also the desire to help one another when our citizens are in need.

To read more about the disaster assistance for Tabasco and Chiapas, click here:

Tomorrow, November 22, Americans will be celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family throughout the globe. At this time, we will all reflect on what we are thankful for in our lives. The outpouring of assistance by the international community to the flood victims of Tabasco and Chiapas is yet one more sign that the spirit of sharing and generosity is alive and well.

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

Sincerely,

Antonio O. Garza, Jr.

Please email us at EmbajadorGarza@state.gov if you would like for your friends or colleagues to be added to our list of recipients. Also please feel free to forward this message to others. If you are not interested in receiving future updates, of course, please let us know.