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To: National and International desks
Contact: Miguel Monterrubio of the
Embassy of Mexico, 202-728-1650
WASHINGTON, April 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following was released today by
the Embassy of Mexico:
Regarding the information released today by the Cuban Head of State, the
Mexican government makes the following clarifications:
1. The Government of Mexico clarifies that the conversation improperly
released by the President of Cuba speaks for itself, because President Fox at
no moment asked his counterpart not to attend the Monterrey Summit, despite the
security and logistics problems implied by a last-minute announcement.
2. The Government of Mexico considers unacceptable the violation by Cuban
authorities of the privacy of the conversation between both Leaders, thereby
breaking an agreement of trust and good faith.
3. The Government of Mexico neither records nor releases the content of
conversations, much less those previously agreed to be private.
4. As the Cuban recording itself shows, the President of Cuba accepted the
agreed modalities for participation, which at any moment and fully within his
rights he could have rejected. At the end of the conversation, both Leaders
said goodbye "as friends."
5. As is demonstrated in the conversation, Mexico was subject to no
suggestion or pressure whatsoever conditioning the participation of the
President of Cuba at Monterrey. President Fox limited himself to asking his
Cuban counterpart to show the other guests a minimum of courtesy, just as he
asked the other participants to show the same courtesy to the Cuban President.
6. On the other hand, the only government that put pressure on Mexico to
decide its vote in Geneva on the situation of human rights in Cuba, was the
government of Havana.
7. The terms of the relationship between Mexico and Cuba are determined
exclusively by Mexicans. It is inadmissible for the Government of Havana to
continue seeking to involve itself in internal debates in Mexico, the sole
responsibility of Mexicans.
8. The Government of Cuba clearly shows that democracy today prevails in
Mexico. It is the case that in Mexico critics of the government have access to
the mass media to criticize the regime. It is the case that in Mexico there are
opposition parties who disagree with the government's position.
It is the case that in Mexico there is a separation of powers and an
independent Congress that demands the Executive take certain stances. It is the
case that opponents of the Mexican government can travel freely to Cuba and
meet whoever they so desire. It is the case that Mexico is open to foreign
scrutiny in human rights and welcomes it. It is the case that in Mexico, as in
most of the world's democracies, the recording of telephone conversations
without the parties' knowledge or consent is forbidden. In Cuba today none of
this is the case. We Mexicans regret that.
The Government of Mexico, regardless of anecdotes and episodes such as this
one, will continue with its diplomatic relations with the Republic of Cuba,
with the same respect that all countries with which Mexico maintains relations
deserve.
Faced with foreign lies and offenses, it is a moment for all Mexicans to
unite, above ideologies and party interests.
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