U.S. SCAPEGOATING MEXICO FOR ITS DRUG PROBLEMS -- FOX MEXICO'S NEW
LEADER WANTS BORDERS OPEN FOR FREE TRADE

Only days before his inauguration as president, Vicente Fox said America
should deal with its drug habit and pledged to join the United States and
Canada in what he called "NAFTA-plus."

In an interview with The Associated Press before he takes office on Friday,
Fox said the United States is too quick to write off Mexico as a corrupt
haven for drug smugglers -- and too reluctant to look in the mirror.

"The United States year after year blames us. Why?" Fox asked. "Who lets the
drugs into the United States? Who is doing gigantic business in the United
States, then sends down millions of dollars that corrupt Mexican police
officers and government officials?"

Fox said the two countries need to "sit down ... and work this out
together."

Fox has promised strong measures against drug corruption, but his comments
indicate he will continue -- or increase -- Mexico's long-standing complaint
that the supply of drugs would not exist without demand in the U.S.

He also said he was confident that he would persuade his northern neighbours
to expand the North American Free Trade Agreement and eventually to open
their borders entirely to Mexican goods -- and maybe even workers -- along
the lines of the European Union.

"I am proposing a 'NAFTA-plus,' " he said. "I'm proposing that 20, 30 years
down the road we form a North American common market in which we become
partners -- the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"I will continue to insist on this, and I know I will win the battle."

Fox's election on July 2 was a historic change for Mexico, ending 71 years
of rule by a single party. On Friday, the country enters a new era as Fox
takes office -- and takes on dire problems including crippling poverty,
widespread corruption and rampant crime.

A farmer and former Coca-Cola executive, Fox pledged to treat the country as
a CEO would a money-losing company, and to build "a government that costs
less and does more."

This weekend, he took his final breather before the presidency, retreating
to his home town of San Cristobal, a farming village 340 kilometres
northwest of Mexico City.

Chatting with his children and posing for photographers, Fox seemed
extremely relaxed given what he's facing.

Fox said he was aware of the giant -- probably unrealistic -- expectations
Mexicans have for him, but claimed he wasn't worried about them.

"I would never throw cold water on that enthusiasm, on that hope. I dare say
that this is Mexico's revolution of hope."

But he cautioned people not to expect too much, saying most of the changes
he envisions will take much longer than his six-year term.

"We have said that in a generation we want to have the Mexico that we always
should have had."