CALDERON RAPS BUSH ON IMMIGRATION, DRUGS

Mexican President Felipe Calderon chastised President Bush today for
doing too little to stem the causes of illegal immigration and for
failing to curb the U.S. appetite for illegal drugs.

Opening a two-day meeting aimed at easing strained relations,
Calderon reminded Bush that he had once said that "there is no
relationship all over the world that is more relevant to the United
States than the one with Mexico."

"Unfortunately, [because of] the terrible happenings against the
United States, priorities changed," Calderon said, referring to the
9/11 attacks. "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."

Calderon reminded Bush of the pain caused in Mexico by the departure
of so many migrants, dividing families. The costs are more than
personal, he said.

"Mexicans lose in each migrant the best of our people, young people,
working people, and audacious people, strong people," Calderon said.
"This is why we want to generate jobs for Mexicans here in Mexico,
because that is the only way in order to truly solve the immigration issue."

Calderon's remarks, delivered at a lush hacienda 28 miles outside
this former Mayan city, were unusually pointed for opening remarks,
when presidents tend to exchange pleasantries and leave the
differences to be aired behind closed doors.

But Calderon, who was inaugurated in December, would like to be seen
here as standing up to the United States and seeking more respect for
Mexico than his predecessor, Vicente Fox.

Calderon accused Bush of seeking the wrong solution to illegal
immigration in signing a law that would build or improve 700 miles of
fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, a move widely seen by Mexicans
as hostile and ineffective.

The two neighboring economies are complementary but not equal, said
Calderon, with Mexico awash in labor and the U.S. rich in capital.
Immigration can be stopped, he said, "not by decree" but by
investment and new jobs in Mexico.

Echoing a line from his presidential campaign last year, Calderon
said that money for just one kilometer of road in Mexico would do
more to stem illegal immigration than 10 kilometers of walls at the border.

Calderon, who has dispatched the Mexican army to eight Mexican states
to combat drug violence, pledged to do his part to curb the supply of
drugs crossing into the United States from Mexico. Warring smugglers
are believed responsible for 2,000 killings last year in Mexico.

But Calderon said he cannot succeed in the drug war unless the United
States can reduce the billions of dollars a year its citizens spend on drugs.

"We need the collaboration and the active participation of our
neighbor, knowing that while there is no reduction in demand in your
territory, it will be very difficult to reduce supply in ours," Calderon said.

In response, Bush repeated pledges made a day earlier in Guatemala
that he would work forcefully to pass an immigration overhaul this
year as well as reduce the demand for illegal drugs.

"I respect your views on migration," Bush said. "Because we're
working together, I believe we will make good progress on this
important issue. Together, we're working to ensure that we have a
secure and modern border that speeds the legitimate flow of people
and commerce, and stop those who threaten our common safety and prosperity."

Bush is on the last stop of his weeklong trip to improve U.S.
relations with Latin America. He is scheduled to return to Washington
on Wednesday.