Mexican President Vicente Fox announced that the Federal Government will launch a program to secure the nation’s southern border with Guatemala. Speaking in vague terms, Fox stated that “we will soon commence this plan” and that specific details of its nature will be forthcoming.

According to Fox, Secretary of State Carlos Abascal Carranza has developed an agressive strategy that will be coordinated in conjunction with state and municipal governments.

President Fox’s statements echoed those made by his American counterpart a month earlier, who pledged to provide more funds, equipment and personnel to strengthen the US border with Mexico.

Given the absolutely porous nature of the southern border, the Mexican Senate has ask the Federal Government to broaden its focus beyond security plans and work to secure social and economic development in the frontier region, according to Senator José Antonio Aguilar Bodegas.

Senator Bodegas indicated that “the lack of persistent guarantees puts at risk the concepts of national security, of public health and security, motives which require the instrumentation of an integral program between Mexico and Central America to generate employment that will diminish the people’s need to migrate to the United States in search of work.”

In terms of Fox’s announced plan on border security, Bodegas said the plan “is welcome, although we are waiting for its realization and hope it doesn’t solely remain in proposals.”

Sources: Cambio Sonora

http://www.cambiosonora.com/VerNota.asp?id=54418&secid=1&catid=2,

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