TOP U.S., MEXICAN DIPLOMATS MEET TO DISCUSS DRUG WAR

MEXICO CITY – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met in New York
with Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa to discuss the Merida
Initiative, especially the chapter on drug trafficking, the Foreign
Relations Secretariat said.

The two diplomats discussed bilateral cooperation against organized
crime via the initiative, a plan under which the United States will
provide Mexico with $1.4 billion between 2008 and 2010 to fight drug
cartels.

Clinton and Espinosa also discussed other security matters, as well as
North American and hemispheric issues, including the crisis in Honduras.

The meeting took place during the 64th U.N. General Assembly, which
was held in New York last week.

The goal of the meeting between Clinton and Espinosa was to follow up
on agreements reached during the working meetings held this year by
Mexican President Felipe Calderon and U.S. President Barack Obama.

In March, Clinton visited Mexico, where she said the fight against the
drug cartels should be a joint effort.

The United States, the world’s largest consumer of illegal drugs, is
the destination for most of the contraband handled by Mexico’s
organized crime groups.