Remarks with His Excellency Jorge Castaneda, Secretary of Foreign Relations of Mexico

Our relationship is stronger than ever. I think our two presidents have a very close relationship, especially as they talk to each other on a regular basis, dealing with areas having to do with regional issues in our own hemisphere, as well as international issues. So it I has been a great pleasure to have Secretary Castaneda here, and I will ask him to make a brief statement, and then we will take one or two questions.

Mr. Secretary.

SECRETARY CASTANEDA: (In Spanish.) We had an excellent conversation as we always do, Secretary Powell and I.  We reviewed matters of great importance on a bilateral level, especially migratory issues and the fact that the talks are still going on.  On the technical level, we are progressing, little by little on many different topics, as the progress in water and economic/commercial issues. 

We had very important discussions on many bilateral topics, and we reviewed them, as always, when considering matters of common interest to both governments, such as the situation in Argentina and the need to support the new policies being developed by President Duhalde, in matters of economic recovery, as well as exchange views on the latest events in Colombia.

As always, it was an excellent meeting, very substantial, very cordial, always a pleasure to visit my friend Colin Powell. 

SECRETARY POWELL: Gracias.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, if I may -- I apologize -- on another issue, the ship. Have you, or has the US Government, seen specific evidence that you can describe at least in some way from Israel that ties the Palestinian Authority to the smuggling? And what is, if any, Arafat's connection to this operation?

SECRETARY POWELL: The information we are receiving and developing on our own makes it clear that there are linkages to the Palestinian Authority. I have not seen any information that yet links it directly to Chairman Arafat.

I have been in touch with Chairman Arafat. I spoke to him yesterday and our Consul General is going in to speak to Palestinian authorities today to make it clear to them that this is a very serious matter; they have to give it their immediate attention, they have to conduct whatever inquiries or investigations are necessary to get to the bottom of this matter.

We are deeply disturbed by the arrival of the ship in the region and the fact that it could have completed its mission and offloaded weapons that would have been put to the worst kind of use against Israel and others in the regions. I'm glad the Israelis intercepted it, and now we have to find all those responsible and accountable for this incident.

QUESTION: (In Spanish.) In reality, you really don't want to talk about a deadline for the migratory talks like President Fox had requested before the September attacks.  I would like to know what are the projects that Mexico now has in mind.  It seems like it is not the "whole enchilada" now, but excuse me for the comparison, it seems more like chilaquiles what's going to be discussed in the migratory accords.

Mr. Secretary, I wonder if you can give me your reaction to the situation of the peace talks in Colombia.

SECRETARY CASTANEDA: (In Spanish.) Chilaquiles are delicious, especially the green ones. But look, what we agreed with Secretary Powell that the negotiations in migratory matters is going ahead, it is being discussed, it is being negotiated at the technical level, on a group of subjects discussed earlier.  We are going to have continuous meetings at the technical level, with deadlines just like President Fox has said and said yesterday, and like the White House Spokesman said yesterday. 

The deadlines are not what we had hoped because of the terrorist attacks; however, we believe we can continue negotiating and obtain good results at the end of the negotiations, the meetings we will be holding and that our presidents will have during the year.  When exactly?  We hope to be able to announce soon when the presidents will meet again, where and at what moment, and of course, at the moment we could show results.

QUESTION: And the question on Colombia, please?

SECRETARY POWELL: We are watching the situation in Colombia very closely, and we regret that the FARC has not taken the opportunity presented to it by President Pastrana to enter into serious negotiations that would lead to a peaceful settlement. The decision that President Pastrana has made, or may be making in the next day or two, we will support as the decision for him to make. And we are in close contact with the Colombian Government.

It is a serious situation, and I hope the FARC recognizes that it is its failure to negotiate in seriousness that has caused this crisis to come about. I hope we do not find an upsurge in violence, and I hope that there may still be found a way to move forward in whatever way President Pastrana decides, but in an atmosphere that does not encourage new and serious violence.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, on the drug smuggling, you spoke about the possibility of extraditing more people like Mario Villanueva and some other drug lords that have been apprehended by the Mexico Government.

And, Mr. Secretary, I wanted to know, what do you think about the struggle of the Mexican Government against the drug cartels in Mexico?

SECRETARY CASTANEDA: (In Spanish.) About extraditions, which was one of the topics we discussed, we didn't discuss any particular cases, one or the other, but the general policies of the Mexican government.  I reiterated President Fox's position to review each request very carefully, based within Mexico's juridical contexts and on recent Supreme Court decisions, our provisions to continue with President Fox's policies and effectively be able to grant extraditions as they occur, and always have a very positive attitude on this matter, we will pursue with much vigor and decisiveness.

SECRETARY POWELL: I am pleased with the progress we have seen in the year that I have been here with respect to our counter-drug efforts, and especially pleased at the courageous decisions that the Mexican Government has taken with respect to extradition and bringing people to justice, and I am sure there will be higher levels of cooperation to which we can aspire and reach.

Thank you very much.