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American Morning
Bush and Fox Sit Down to Discuss Several key Issues
Aired September 05, 2001 - 11:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox are sitting down at this hour to begin their talks on a number of key issues facing both countries. Among those issues: immigration, trade and drug trafficking.
For more on the Mexican leader's state visit to the U.S. let's turn now to CNN's senior white house correspondent John King.
Good morning, John.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Leon.
Well, it is the first state visit of the Bush presidency and some powerful symbolism in that, that Mr. Bush deliberately chose the United States neighbor to the south, Mexico and President Vicente Fox to be the first granted official state visit here at the White House. That meant a full military honor guard during the welcoming ceremonies on the south side of the White House. Those ceremonies completed.
As you mentioned, the leaders now in the Oval Office discussing very difficult issues: trade and immigration. Those issues all the more complicated by the slowing U.S. economy and the fact that Mexico's economy has dipped into a recession.
The leaders had hoped to sign a major immigration agreement at this summit. That, however, fell short as Mr. Bush failed to win support in the U.S. Congress. Still, in his remarks at that opening ceremony today, Mr. Bush signaling the importance of U.S.-Mexico relations, indicating he believed it was time for a new chapter in a relationship that in the past has been often troubled.
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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today both our countries are committed to being good neighbors and good friends. Friends deal in good faith and disagree with respect. Friends stick together in good times and in bad.
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KING: Now there are some three million, some say as many 4 1/2 million, undocumented Mexicans in the United States. Mr. Bush has wanted to grant many of them legal status. Mr. Fox wants blanket amnesty. That is a proposal, though, that would go nowhere in the U.S. Congress. So the hopes for an agreement at this mini summit dashed. Still, Mr. Fox making clear today that he wanted to discuss the issue with President Bush, that both leaders recognize the role those migrants, even illegal immigrants, have played to the U.S. economy and the Mexican economy.
Mr. Fox holding out hope there would be agreement soon.
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PRES. VICENTE FOX, MEXICO (through translator): For this reason we must and we can reach an agreement on migration before the end of this very year, which will allow us before the end of our respective terms to make sure that there are no Mexicans who have not entered this country legally in the United States. And that those Mexicans who have come into the country do so with a proper documents.
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KING: A key goal for Mr. Fox on this trip to prove that Mexico can be and will be larger player on the world stage. And as a result, he will not only meet with President Bush here at the White House, he will address a joint session with the U.S. Congress, he meet with the Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, also a political meeting with the head of AFL-CIO organized labor, John Sweeney. Organized labor among the sharpest critics of trade more trade with Mexico. Mr. Fox trying to calm some of his critics as he tries to renew and build his friendship with President Bush -- Leon.
HARRIS: All right, thanks, John.
John King at the White House.
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