Zedillo Speaks in California


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Mexican President Speaks in Calif 

By David Kligman
Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, May 19, 1999; 7:51 a.m. EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo called for closer
cooperation with California to resolve shared problems, a move state
lawmakers hope signals warmer relations across the border.

``Of course we have many problems,'' Zedillo said Tuesday night. ``We have
to talk about migration. We have to talk about the everyday problems at
our common border. We have to talk about security problems. We have to
talk about so many issues.''

Zedillo's speech to about 800 members of the Commonwealth Club and World
Affairs Council came hours after he became the first Mexican president to
address the California Legislature. 

His three-day trip to California reciprocates a trip Gov. Gray Davis took
to Mexico City in February. Zedillo was to arrive in Los Angeles today and
spend Thursday in San Diego before returning home.

While Mexico-California trade has soared this decade, official relations
have withered as California voters approved ballot measures meant to curb
illegal immigration and dismantle state affirmative action. 

``We are committed to healing the wounds of the past,'' Davis said before
introducing Zedillo in San Francisco. ``God made us neighbors for a
reason. He wants us to get along. We have a common destiny. When Mexico
prospers, America prospers.''

Zedillo raised immigration as a major issue in cross-border relations. But
he avoided controversial pronouncements on the subject, saying solutions
could be found only if California and Mexico work together.

In his earlier speech at the state Capitol, Zedillo sought to reassure
Californians that his country is rebuilding its economy, strengthening
democracy, reforming its judicial system and cleaning up its environment.

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a Mexican-American, said California and Mexico
were ringing in ``a new spirit of goodwill.''

``The days of looking toward Mexico and seeing only problems are over,''
Bustamante said.

(c) Copyright 1999 The Associated Press
 
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