U.S. LEADERS HAIL MEXICO'S FOX AS A VISIONARY

MEXICO CITY -- In contrast to the lukewarm reception he got in
Washington last month, Mexican President-elect Vicente Fox was praised
Friday as a "visionary" by a visiting U.S. congressional delegation.

Led by Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, a
bipartisan group of seven lawmakers -- three senators and four House
members -- met with Fox and outgoing President Ernesto Zedillo.

Fox "reminded me of a Texas entrepreneur. He had that entrepreneurial
spirit, the vision, the ideas and enthusiasm," Hutchison told U.S.
reporters here.

The group, which also included Reps. Ruben Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, and
Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, discussed with Fox a proposal supported
by Hutchison and pending in Congress that calls for a moratorium on
the act of certifying Mexico and other countries as drug-fighting partners.

"Many of us in Congress have tried and would like to see our
certification law modified so that it is more of a mutual working
relationship, rather than what has been perceived (by Mexico) to be a
grading," Hutchison said.

In a meeting with U.S. reporters, Hutchison said Fox explained an idea
for an infrastructure partnership to boost the pace of commercial
traffic on the border with more roads, bridges and entry points
between Mexico and the United States.

During meetings last month in Canada, Washington and Dallas, Fox
proposed creating a North American development fund with billions of
U.S. and Canadian dollars that could help Mexico develop employment in
impoverished areas. Fox said the plan would curb illegal migration.
President Clinton and the two main candidates vying to succeed him all
suggested the plan was unfeasible.

Hutchison and other delegates stopped short of approving of Fox's
idea. But the delegates urged serious consideration of a fund for
improving border infrastructure.