Apr 21, 2009, 05:34 PM
Mexico approves Cuban-American as US ambassador
23 hours ago
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's Foreign Relations Department says it has approved Cuban-American Carlos Pascual as the new U.S. ambassador.
Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa told reporters Mexico approved the new ambassador several days ago, though she did not say who it was. Foreign Relations Department spokesman Victor Aviles later told The Associated Press it was Pascual.
Pascual served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2000 to 2003. He is vice president and director of foreign policy for the Brookings Institution in Washington, where he focuses on post-conflict stabilization.
Mexico and the United States are stepping up cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, with the U.S. government pledging to do more to stop gun trafficking south
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Mexico OKs U.S. ambassador set to aid in drug war
Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:40pm EDT
MEXICO CITY, April 20 (Reuters) - Mexico's government has approved Washington's choice as U.S. ambassador of a Cuban American security expert, as the United States steps up efforts to contain escalating drug violence along its southern border.
Carlos Pascual, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and a senior director on the White House's National Security Council staff, was proposed by President Barack Obama in March.
He was approved by Mexico earlier this month, a Mexican Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday.
In a short visit to the Mexican capital last week, Obama pledged strong support for Mexico's "courageous" fight against powerful drug cartels whose turf wars killed 6,300 people last year.
Pascual, whose appointment must be ratified by the U.S. Senate, will face the task of helping to stop the flow of guns and drug cash into Mexico from the United States as Mexico grapples with its biggest threat to stability in years.
Armed with huge arsenals, drug gangs fighting over smuggling routes into the United States are taking their feuds into U.S. cities such as Phoenix and increasing their links with U.S. gangs who help distribute narcotics.
The United States is reinforcing security along the U.S.-Mexico border and is sending $1.4 billion in anti-drug aid to give Mexico equipment such as helicopters, as well as funds to clean up corrupt police forces and courts.
Both countries are also looking to resolve a trade dispute over Mexican trucks' access to U.S. roads, part of the North American Free Trade Agreement that Washington has declined to uphold, citing safety concerns.
Mexico has been without an ambassador since Tony Garza ended his term in January after serving under the administration of President George W. Bush.
An expert in conflict management, Pascual was born in Cuba and has urged closer U.S. ties with Latin America. Obama was feted by regional leaders at the three-day Summit of the Americas that ended in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday. (Editing by Eric Walsh)
© Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.
23 hours ago
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's Foreign Relations Department says it has approved Cuban-American Carlos Pascual as the new U.S. ambassador.
Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa told reporters Mexico approved the new ambassador several days ago, though she did not say who it was. Foreign Relations Department spokesman Victor Aviles later told The Associated Press it was Pascual.
Pascual served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2000 to 2003. He is vice president and director of foreign policy for the Brookings Institution in Washington, where he focuses on post-conflict stabilization.
Mexico and the United States are stepping up cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, with the U.S. government pledging to do more to stop gun trafficking south
Print | Close this window
Mexico OKs U.S. ambassador set to aid in drug war
Mon Apr 20, 2009 10:40pm EDT
MEXICO CITY, April 20 (Reuters) - Mexico's government has approved Washington's choice as U.S. ambassador of a Cuban American security expert, as the United States steps up efforts to contain escalating drug violence along its southern border.
Carlos Pascual, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and a senior director on the White House's National Security Council staff, was proposed by President Barack Obama in March.
He was approved by Mexico earlier this month, a Mexican Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday.
In a short visit to the Mexican capital last week, Obama pledged strong support for Mexico's "courageous" fight against powerful drug cartels whose turf wars killed 6,300 people last year.
Pascual, whose appointment must be ratified by the U.S. Senate, will face the task of helping to stop the flow of guns and drug cash into Mexico from the United States as Mexico grapples with its biggest threat to stability in years.
Armed with huge arsenals, drug gangs fighting over smuggling routes into the United States are taking their feuds into U.S. cities such as Phoenix and increasing their links with U.S. gangs who help distribute narcotics.
The United States is reinforcing security along the U.S.-Mexico border and is sending $1.4 billion in anti-drug aid to give Mexico equipment such as helicopters, as well as funds to clean up corrupt police forces and courts.
Both countries are also looking to resolve a trade dispute over Mexican trucks' access to U.S. roads, part of the North American Free Trade Agreement that Washington has declined to uphold, citing safety concerns.
Mexico has been without an ambassador since Tony Garza ended his term in January after serving under the administration of President George W. Bush.
An expert in conflict management, Pascual was born in Cuba and has urged closer U.S. ties with Latin America. Obama was feted by regional leaders at the three-day Summit of the Americas that ended in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday. (Editing by Eric Walsh)
© Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved.
