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March 25, 2009

Clinton Heads to Mexico for Talks on Drug War
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2320E87:A6F02AD83191E1609875581D06DC891A2A201403E89ED254&
 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mexican officials to discuss joint
initiative to fight cross-border drug crimes 
US Sec. of State Hillary Clinton, (File)U.S. Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton is in Mexico Wednesday, on a two-day trip to show support for
the Mexican president and his government's crackdown on violent drug
cartels. Clinton will meet with President Felipe Calderon and Foreign
Secretary Patricia Espinosa in Mexico City, before traveling to the
industrial city of Monterrey, near the U.S. border. The top U.S.
diplomat is expected to discuss the Merida Initiative, a joint effort to
fight cross-border drug crimes. President Calderon has deployed 36,000
troops around Mexico to battle drug cartels, and related violence that
has claimed thousands lives in Mexico in the past year. Violent
drug-related crimes have also spilled across the border into the United
States. As Clinton travels to Mexico, Homeland Security chief Janet
Napolitano is testifying before a Senate committee in Washington on the
impact that drug-related violence from Mexico is having on the United
States. Tuesday, the Obama administration announced steps to curb the
trafficking of drugs, illegal money and weapons across the U.S.-Mexico
border. The plan calls for the deployment of more federal agents, and
equipment to the U.S. border region. U.S. President Barack Obama said
Tuesday the United States is prepared to "do more" to address the
violence along the border with Mexico. During a press conference, Mr.
Obama praised what he called President Calderon's "very courageous"
campaign against the violent drug cartels. Mr. Obama is scheduled to
visit Mexico himself in mid-April. Secretary Clinton's visit to
Monterrey is to highlight Mexican high-tech companies and research on
renewable energy. Despite areas of agreement, there are still some
substantial differences between the two countries on trade issues and
immigration. Separately, U.S. Homeland Security chief Napolitano and
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder are also scheduled to travel to Mexico
next month. 

Some information for this report was provided by AP.


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