U.S.-Mexico Relations: Keynote address by U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pascual at Border Security Conference

In this speech, given on August 12, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Pascual, presents, in some detail, the "Beyond Merida" strategy and its rationale. Of course, he says nothing about questioning drug prohibition or the alternative of legalization. According to the speech, "The El Paso Border Security Conference, ...has become a premiere public forum for discussion between the public and private sectors at the national, state and community levels of both countries. The annual El Paso Border Security Conference explores ways to safeguard our common security while fostering the human interchange and cultural and economic growth between the United States and Mexico."

Keynote address by U.S. Ambassador Carlos Pascual at Border Security Conference "The problems of violence and social decay that are generated by the international drug trafficking organizations are complex and interconnected. To deal with problems of this magnitude, we need a combined strategy, from both the United States and Mexico, based on a full understanding of that complexity. The Four Pillars that go “Beyond Merida” is such a strategy. Our overriding task right now is aggressively and effectively to implement all elements of that strategy." August 12, 2010.