Bush, Salinas Vow Unity in Drug War : Mexican President Calls for Humane Treatment of Illegals

WASHINGTON —  Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari opened an official visit today and joined President Bush in promising expanded cooperation in combatting cross-border drug smuggling.

With Bush standing at his side during a White House welcoming ceremony, Salinas declared that the two countries, working together, “can strike lethal blows against drug trafficking to free the world from that international scourge.”

In a similar vein, Bush said the United States and Mexico “must continue to strengthen our assault on the plague of drug use and trafficking. For we know that what threatens one nation in our hemisphere threatens us all.”

Signed Accords

The two presidents then presided over the signing of two agreements, one to promote U.S.-Mexico trade and the other to provide U.S. assistance for combating pollution in Mexico City.

Bush said relations between the two countries have progressed since Salinas took office last December, citing advances in such areas as debt, trade, investment and the environment.

Bush told Salinas that today’s meeting fostered “the good will and dedication to confront and meet our challenges--meet them through mutual candor, through mutual respect.”

“U.S.-Mexican affairs are vital to our respective national agenda,” he said. “Our relations now are strong and they must grow stronger. And they will.”

Mexican Migration

Salinas, speaking through a translator, said ways must be found to deal more humanely with the migration of Mexicans to the United States.

He also said the two countries must work toward a “new stage” in their trade relations.

Salinas is giving high priority to seeking trade concessions during his visit but a U.S. official, responding Monday to remarks Salinas made to reporters before leaving Mexico, disagreed with his contention that Mexico has difficulty penetrating American markets.