Mar 8, 2012

Drug War Politics: Mexico's presidential candidates committed to fighting drug: Biden

Milenio: "U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said today that continuing the fight against drug trafficking is on the agenda of the three leading candidates for President of Mexico, but said he noticed "slight differences of emphasis" .

Biden, who returned from his trip to Mexico and Honduras, said in a radio interview that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Enrique Peña Nieto and Josefina Vazquez Mota, whom he met last Monday, assured him that they will continue the fight against criminal groups.

"I didn't have to ask for guarantees. The candidates from the three largest parties began the conversation assuring me they are as committed as President (Felipe) Calderon to struggle with the drug cartels and organized crime," he said.

"There were slight differences in emphasis of each of the three candidates, but essentially no changes in direction," said the vice president in an interview with the Hispanic Radio Network in Washington.

... He attributed the three candidates taking the lead on the issue of drugs to "speculation" in the U.S. press that there might be changes in White House policy depending on who wins. He indicated that the three expressed their expectation of continuity in U.S. aid to Mexico.

Biden added that, on his account, he guaranteed to them that the United States will work "with whomever the Mexican people decide is their next leader" in the elections of July.

.... Mexico has been a great partner in the United Nations in the fight against terrorism, a great partner beyond our borders. It was a very useful trip; I think the relationship is in very good shape, " he said." Spanish original

No comments:

Post a Comment