WARM WELCOME FOR CLINTON IN MEXICO

With a new lease on his presidency, President Clinton basked in a warm
reception Sunday here in the tropical capital of the Yucatan, where
even raucous pre-Lent carnival celebrations were quieted in honor of
his arrival.

The president was greeted with a bear hug by Mexican President Ernesto
Zedillo at an airport festooned with Mexican and U.S. flags and a
giant illuminated "Bienvenidos a Mexico" sign.

Pictures of the two presidents were plastered throughout the pretty
city known for its crumbling, pastel-colored turn-of-the-century mansions.

The affectionate welcome came even though the leaders are expected to
address such thorny issues as drug policy and immigration during the
one-day visit by Clinton. While he did not come bearing huge gifts,
the two men are expected to sign one agreement liberalizing air
travel and another providing $4 billion in credit for Mexican
importers of U.S. products. Mexico has emerged as the No. 2 importer
of U.S. goods as trade to much of the world has stagnated because of
the global economic crisis.

The trip was Clinton's first excursion out of the White House since he
was acquitted Friday by the Senate of charges relating to his
relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

But it was immediately clear that the president's impeachment trial
has cost him little, if any, popularity south of the border. From
senior Cabinet officials to the man in the street, Mexicans were
jubilant about the visit of a leader who has supported them and their
economy even when it was difficult for him politically.

"President Clinton is a friend of Mexico, a personal friend of
President Zedillo, and we give him a warm welcome," said Foreign
Minister Rosario Green during a pre-trip news conference.

The president of Mexico's Senate said that Clinton's acquittal was
"favorable." "We're really pleased it turned out this way," said Maria
de los Angeles Moreno.

In the city streets, packed with carnival revelers singing, dancing
and dousing one another with shaving cream, the welcome was equally
warm.

"Even if he has another Lewinsky, we don't care. He's a good
president, better than Zedillo," said Jose Lavadores, a 50-year-old
engineer sipping beer at a downtown celebration.

There were only some noses out of joint because the government shut
down the party eight hours earlier than usual, at 4 p.m., because of
security concerns related to the president's arrival.

Clinton was thinking about another holiday as he made his way to
Mexico aboard Air Force One Sunday afternoon.

He and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton spread Valentine's cheer
throughout their plane, passing out chocolate candy from a large
heart-shaped box.

"Happy Valentine's Day," the president told reporters in a rare visit
to the back of the plane, where they sit. "Isn't this the biggest
heart you ever saw in your life? This is a better kind of heart of
darkness."

Hillary Clinton was wearing a gold-colored, heart-shaped pin on her
dark suit. When asked if it was new, she replied, "Brand-new." Then
she pointed to her husband and smiled.

The Clintons have a particular fondness for Mexico because they
honeymooned in Acapulco. The president is known to love Mexican food.