CALDERON ADMONISHES BUSH ON THORNY ISSUES

MERIDA, Mexico, March -- Mexican President Felipe Calderon chided
President Bush on Tuesday for trying to build a wall between their
two countries and lamented that the American leader never made Mexico
the priority he once promised it would become during his presidency.

As he welcomed Bush for their first meeting since taking office in
December, Calderon set a polite but firm tone, raising some of the
toughest issues in U.S.-Mexican relations. The comments at a ceremony
for Bush's arrival underscored the difficulties that lie ahead in two
days of talks between the leaders.

The Post follows President Bush on his 7-day trip through Latin
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The U.S.-Mexico border is at the forefront of a growing debate over
U.S. immigration and border security reform.

Among the top issues was U.S. legislation, signed by Bush last year,
authorizing 700 miles of fencing and other barriers along the
U.S.-Mexico border. Mexicans respect Americans' right to decide their
security, Calderon said. "But at the same time, we do consider in a
respectful way that it would be better to stop the migration by
building a kilometer of highway in Michoacan or Zacatecas than 10
kilometers of walls in the border."

In another pointed remark, Calderon recalled how Bush had promised as
a candidate in 2000 to put Mexico at the top of his foreign policy
agenda. "Unfortunately, the terrible happenings against the United
States people made that -- in a very understandable way, the
priorities changed," he said, referring to Sept. 11, 2001.
"Nevertheless, I believe that it is now time to retake the spirit of
those words and to direct our relationship toward a path of mutual prosperity."

While vowing to fight drug-running in his country, Calderon also
pointed out the U.S. responsibility for stopping the demand because
"while there is no reduction in demand in your territory, it will be
very difficult to reduce the supply in ours."

Bush did not directly rebut Calderon during their short ceremony at
the Hacienda Temoezon , a 350-year-old farm-turned-hotel in Temozon
Sur, 28 miles from here, but promised to push for immigration
legislation at home that would address their mutual problems.

"I respect your views on migration," Bush said. "Because we're
working together, I believe we will make good progress on this
important issue." He added: "My pledge to you and your government --
but, more importantly, the people of Mexico -- is I will work as hard
as I possibly can to pass comprehensive immigration reform."

The scratchy opening encounter surprised Bush aides and foreshadowed
a challenging relationship between the leaders. Bush developed a
rapport with Calderon's predecessor, Vicente Fox, but many Mexicans
say Fox got little out of it and Calderon has taken a more practical,
cautious approach.

The meeting came on the last stop of Bush's six-day, five-country
tour through Latin America, which will end Wednesday after a joint
news conference with the two leaders here. Following the arrival
ceremony Tuesday, Bush and CalderA3n and their wives toured the
ancient Uxmal ruins and posed for pictures in the shadow of the
towering Pyramid of the Magician, then later had dinner at Hacienda
Xcanatun, a restored luxury hotel with marble terraces and lush
tropical gardens.

The time gave them a chance to get to know each other better. "The
chemistry was good," said White House press secretary Tony Snow.

Dan Fisk, the president's top Latin America adviser, said Bush found
Calderon's bluntness refreshing. "They can be very direct with each
other in terms of the issues that are on their mind and they can talk
with equal frankness about how to move forward," Fisk said.