President Obama with Mexican President Felipe Calderon have vowed to work together to fight drug trafficking, border violence, environmental dangers and other shared challenges. The two leaders met at the country’s presidential residence.

President Obama said he has great approbation for Mexico’s leaders in their severe and prolonged encounter against drug traffickers. “But I will not pretend that this is Mexico’s responsibility alone. The demand for drugs in the United States is what is helping to keep these cartels in business. This war is being waged with guns purchased, not here, but in the United States,” he said.

Mr. Obama said he wants the U.S. Congress to approve a treaty limiting U.S. gun exports to the Americas. Moreover, continue funding for a program that would provide Mexico with military helicopters to assist in the drug war.

President Calderon has advocated the United States to lessen arms shipments south of its border and saying 90 percent of weapons in the hands of drug traffickers originate in the U.S.

The Mexican leader said the United States and Mexico must combine efforts to fight climate change and lessen carbon emissions. He also added that both can be made more competitive through cooperation and integration. To that end, he said he and Mr. Obama conversed ways to improve infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border to facilitate bilateral trade.

“I am committed to fixing our broken immigration system in a way that upholds our traditions as a nation of laws, but also as a nation of immigrants. And I am committed to working with President Calderon to promote the kind of bottom-up economic growth here in Mexico that will allow people to live out their dreams here , and as a consequence will relieve some of the pressure that we have seen along the border,” he said.

President Calderon believed his meeting with Mr. Obama was ground-breaking. Moreover, he said it was a historic event and that he is certain it will inaugurate a new era and relationship between the two countries.

After an overnight stay in Mexico, President Obama departs for Trinidad and Tobago Friday to attend the Summit of the Americas.

(from voanews)

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