[NYTr] Mexican Pres Wants to End anti-immigrant hysteria in US, Canada

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

sent by Milt Shapiro (mexnews)

AP - Dec 7, 2007

Mexican leader seeks tempered attitudes


By E. EDUARDO CASTILLO
Associated Press Writer

President Felipe Calderon on Friday told Mexican consuls to the U.S. 
and Canada that they must work to "neutralize" anti-immigrant 
attitudes north of the border.

Calderon's instructions came two days after he accused U.S. 
presidential candidates of "swaggering, macho and anti-Mexican" 
posturing. He also warned the U.S. Congress not to impose conditions 
on a $1.4 billion anti-drug aid package.

On Friday, the Mexican leader asked his diplomatic representatives in 
the U.S. to participate in the public debate on immigration by 
appearing at public events, talking more to the media and working 
with nonprofit groups to promote Mexican immigrants' role in 
supporting the U.S. economy.

"The key is to neutralize this strategy of confrontation and 
discrimination that forms part of U.S. society's mistaken perception, 
and be able to newly focus arguments on the complimentary aspects of 
our economies," he said.

Calderon complained about "the seeds of animosity, or in some cases 
even hate and discrimination, that are being planted are not only 
against immigrants, but sometimes against Mexicans in general."

He said the increasingly hostile attitude toward Mexicans was 
"affecting our bilateral relationship" with the U.S.

"The worst mistake that we can make, both in the U.S. and in Mexico, 
is make our respective people feel that the other nation is the 
enemy," he said.

Mexico has pushed for an immigration accord and better treatment of 
its estimated 11 million citizens who live in the U.S. Some 6 million 
are believed to be there illegally.

Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press