FOX DECLARES 'A NEW MEXICO' AFTER 100 DAYS AS PRESIDENT

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- One hundred days after he unseated a 70-year political
dynasty, President Vicente Fox declared "a new Mexico" on Friday and
challenged Zapatista leader Subcomandante Marcos to show he is serious
about peace.

Mr. Fox gave a rosy assessment of the beginning of his term -- his 100th
day is Saturday -- saying Mexico is more democratic and ethical than ever
before.

"Today we're in a new Mexico, a Mexico with democratic legitimacy, a Mexico
with a government that has a true moral authority," he said during a
meeting with foreign correspondents.

But the tasks facing Mr. Fox in his six-year term remain daunting, and
there has been little time for concrete achievements in the problems at the
top of most Mexicans' lists -- crime, corruption and jobs.

Mr. Fox bragged about a strong economy, pointing out that February was
Mexico's first month without inflation in 30 years.

But he didn't mention Mexico's widening trade deficit, its flat job growth
or its declining industrial production. Investors also are concerned about
an overvalued peso and on Thursday Mr. Fox's government reduced its
estimate of Mexico's annual growth from 4.5% to 3.5%, in part because of
the slowing U.S. economy.

Mr. Fox spoke of ending corruption in law enforcement. But aside from a
raise for federal agents, he said little about how he would do that other
than to "install a code of ethics in the government."

There are no indications crime is down. In fact, with a wave of
drug-related killings it may even be up. Mr. Fox attributed that violence
to his attacks on drug smugglers, which he said was causing them to strike
back.

Mr. Fox also has many other issues to address. Amnesty International
appealed to him Friday to make good on his pledge to expand human rights
and eradicate political violence, while in Yucatan state a governor is
defying Mr. Fox and the Supreme Court in refusing to let federal elections
workers conduct an upcoming vote.

So far, Mr. Fox has spent much of his political capital trying to end the
war in Chiapas, closing army bases, freeing prisoners and submitting an
Indian rights bill to Congress. Rebel leader Subcomandante Marcos has
responded mainly by criticizing the new president.

Mr. Fox said it is now Mr. Marcos' turn to show he is serious about ending
his nominal war with the government. Mr. Marcos, who is traveling through
Mexico with several hundred supporters, arrives in Mexico City on Sunday,
and Mr. Fox said then he will need to declare his intentions.

"Marcos is being tested. What is being tested is whether Marcos really
wants peace," Mr. Fox said. He added: "Marcos has a standing invitation to
come to [my office] any day he wants so we can talk. We have a lot to talk
about."

Despite the increasing drug violence and evidence of broad drug-related
corruption in the government, Mr. Fox said Mexico was finally making
headway in its war with the smugglers.

He cited a record eradication of drug fields and the firings of law
enforcement officers susceptible to bribes. And he said the U.S. is now
working with Mexico as a partner, reducing consumption inside its own
borders and sharing intelligence vital to Mexico's efforts to stop the drug
trade.

But Mr. Fox appeared to back off of one of his own promises on the drug
war: a statement in December that his government would arrest the Arellano
Felix brothers, Mexico's most notorious smugglers, within six months.

"I don't remember having given a date," he said. "We're working on it."