U.S., Mexico Strike Deals on Sensitive Border Issues

MEXICO CITY — On a day full of pomp and optimism, Presidents Bill Clinton and Ernesto Zedillo on Tuesday signed two key agreements--one promising a joint strategy in the war on drugs by the end of the year and another pledging to reduce the vexing problems of crime and illegal migration along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexican border.

Despite recent tensions between the two nations over immigration, drugs and other cross-border problems, the presidents stressed the positive developments in the relationship and declared a new era of collaboration in the drug war.

“I believe that this government is trying to work with us,” Clinton said at a news conference on the grounds of Los Pinos, the presidential palace. “And I believe that the chances of our succeeding in dealing with our problems, and the chances of their succeeding in dealing with their problems, are dramatically heightened if we work together.”

There were plenty of festivities on the first full day of Clinton’s state visit to this capital--his first, and the first by any U.S. president in almost two decades. In the morning, he and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton were welcomed with a 21-cannon salute and a parade with marching honor guards, horses pulling antique artillery, and bands playing both nations’ anthems. Evening events included an elaborate state dinner.

Clinton and his host heaped compliments on each other. Zedillo acclaimed Clinton as a “good friend” of Mexico; Clinton returned the praise, calling Zedillo a “trusted friend” and admiring his “bold leadership.”

Clinton’s trip to Mexico is the highlight of a weeklong Latin America tour, which will include a summit with Central American leaders in Costa Rica and a conference with Caribbean leaders in Barbados. Mexico, a back-burner foreign policy concern during the Cold War, has emerged as one of the United States’ most important foreign policy priorities.

Demonstrating how integral relations between the United States and Mexico have become, Clinton was accompanied in Mexico City by most members of his Cabinet, who arrived Monday to work with their Mexican counterparts on an array of issues from the environment to trade to bridge building.

“No two countries are working together on more important issues, with a more direct effect on the lives of their people than Mexico and the United States,” Clinton said.

Mexican Foreign Minister Jose Angel Gurria Trevino stressed during a high-level meeting Tuesday that relations between Mexico and the United States have changed from “aloofness to commitment.”

At a news conference later, Gurria noted: “There have never been high-level written documents by the presidents of Mexico and the United States on the themes of drugs and immigration in which both leaders had set out their philosophies.”

The central issue Tuesday was clearly the two nations’ efforts to work together against the flow of illegal drugs across the border.

The United States is the largest illegal drug market in the world--consuming $49 billion worth a year--and many of those drugs pass through Mexico.

The leaders accepted a report assessing the drug threat to both nations and signed a document declaring a new “Mexican/U.S. alliance against drugs.” The report included a concession by the U.S. that the United States is the largest source of illegal arms shipments to Mexico.

Clinton and Zedillo also ordered their respective cabinets to devise a common counter-drug strategy, including implementation plans that are mutually reinforcing.

A contentious issue between the two countries has been a dispute over whether U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents can carry arms in Mexico. Both Zedillo and U.S. officials said the disagreement had been resolved and the security of law enforcement personnel on both sides will be ensured. Mexico opposes the arming of U.S. agents on its turf as a violation of its sovereignty; both sides refused to specify the mechanics of the agreement.

Mexican Atty. Gen. Jorge Madrazo Cuellar said later that his office is studying ways to provide security to the U.S. agents without violating Mexican sovereignty.

Madrazo stressed that while the meetings were full of promise, much work remains to accomplish the lofty goals. “This isn’t magic,” he said later. “But no one said this was a magical visit.”

Another prickly issue has been the effect of new U.S. immigration and welfare laws on Mexican nationals in the United States. The joint statement on migration signed by Clinton and Zedillo represented an effort by both countries to better manage migration and to increase the dialogue on related issues.

Mexicans are worried that the new immigration laws will lead to mass deportations from the U.S. of illegal immigrants. During the press conference, Clinton made assurances that there will “be no mass deportations and no discrimination.”

Recent welfare reforms made legal immigrants ineligible for most forms of federal assistance, but Clinton stressed that under a budget agreement he reached with Congress last week many of those benefits will be restored.

Later in the day, Clinton met with several opposition political figures--the first time a visiting U.S. head of state has had such an opportunity here. Mexico is in political transition to democracy after nearly seven decades of one-party rule. Clinton said he arranged the meeting “because we support the political reform process in Mexico.”

He also paid homage to one of the most enduring legends in Mexican history when he stood silently before a wreath at the monument to the Child Heroes.

According to legend, six military cadets wrapped themselves in a Mexican flag and leaped to their deaths when they realized they could no longer stop U.S. Marines from taking Chapultepec hill in Mexico City during the Mexican War in 1847.

Modern research has cast doubt on the story, but it is an emotional one for Mexicans, who are commemorating the 150th anniversary of their defeat by the Americans, and Clinton’s homage to the Child Heroes apparently was intended as an act of friendship.

Meanwhile, on Mexico City’s streets Tuesday, riot police cordoned off an area around the U.S. Embassy, where dozens of citizen groups had planned an afternoon demonstration.

An opinion poll published by Mexico City’s Reforma newspaper Tuesday showed that 48% of the Mexican citizens surveyed had at least a favorable impression of Clinton, compared with 35% who had negative opinions about him.

Of the United States in general, though, just 37% of respondents said they had at least a favorable view, while 52% said they saw America either unfavorably or very unfavorably.

Times staff writers Mark Fineman, Stanley Meisler and Mary Beth Sheridan contributed to this report.

* TOUCHY SUBJECT: Presidents sign blunt statement on nations’ drug problems. A35