MAYOR COOK SAYS CALDERON HONEST ABOUT TROUBLES

EL PASO -- El Paso Mayor John Cook was among leaders who met with
Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday in Juarez.

Cook said he felt that the group meeting, including members of
Mexico's presidential Cabinet, was a good start and that Calderon was
honest about the problems facing Juarez.

It was the first meeting between Cook and Calderon.

More than 4,500 people have been murdered in Juarez in the past two
years as part of violence spurred by a drug-trafficker war.

"I was pleased," Cook said after the high-level meeting.

"I don't know if anybody really knows what the solution
is.

"You are fighting 100 years of corruption that was turned a blind eye
to in Juarez. The criminal element was tolerated. It is hard for the
citizens to just turn around and trust the police and the government
and the army because it's failed them before," the El Paso mayor said.

Cook said Calderon proposed more resources for law enforcement, such
as helicopters, motorcycles and cars, but also educational and social
programs, including improving schools, parks, streets and water
services for all Juarenses.

"The core point they were trying to make is they realize they can't
just do it with police officers and soldiers on the streets," Cook
said.

"It's more of a holistic approach. You have to look at social program
and jobs training.

"They didn't try to lay any of the blame on the United States, which I
was surprised at," Cook said.

"I thought they would talk about the flow of drugs into the U.S. and
the flow of weapons south."

Cook, who keeps in contact with Juarez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz, said
Calderon's plans to improve social and educational programs could go a
long way toward helping prevent crime.

"He realized part of the challenge they have is they have hundreds of
kids that are not getting an education, who are out on the streets,"
Cook said.

"And they become prime targets to recruited by the cartels."