Congressman Eliot Engel;

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

We are gathered here to honor a highly distinguished individual and friend of Mexico, and to bestow upon him the Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca, the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle in Degree of Insignia, the highest decoration awarded by the Mexican Government to foreign nationals whose work or actions have benefited Mexico and Mexicans.

 Tonight we recognize Congressman Eliot Engel, a singular member of Congress who in recent years has become a key actor in building upon the unprecedented levels of cooperation that Mexico and the U.S. enjoy today, as well as our budding dialogue on regional and global issues.

 In our “intermestic” bilateral agenda, the lines between the foreign and domestic policies of both our countries are fading, and Members of Congress now have a major say on the way our two countries interact and confront mutual domestic and foreign policy challenges and opportunities. The active engagement of Congress and its commitment to issues of the Mexico-United States agenda is therefore essential to further strengthen our relationship for the well-being of both of our peoples.

In our interaction with Congress, and particularly with the House of Representatives, we have found a true ally in Congressman Engel. In January 2007, Representative Engel became the Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In his growing engagement with our region, he quickly understood that given the prevailing interdependence between Mexico and the U.S., working together is the best approach to face common challenges. I am convinced that the seachange that has taken place in the security cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. would have been impossible without individuals like Congressman Engel, who recognize that our two countries can forge a win-win equation when we collaborate under the principle of shared responsibility.

 Congressman Engel has put words into action, becoming a key ally in the approval process of the Merida Initiative. His leadership and statesmanship in favor of this program were decisive to generate awareness among members of Congress of the importance of supporting this paradigmatic shift in our relationship, and he played a pivotal role during the negotiation, authorization and appropriation processes of this security cooperation framework. The Merida Initiative is far more than just the allocation of resources to support our countries’ joint efforts to fight transnational organized crime. It is an explicit recognition that we face challenges that demand the engaged participation and co-responsibility of both nations to ensure the security, well-being, and prosperity of our peoples.

Congressman Engel is also a major supporter of policies to curb the illegal flow of weapons from the U.S. into Mexico. He has repeatedly underscored the need to reinstate the Assault Weapons Ban, and he has also been urging the Senate to expeditiously ratify CIFTA, the all-important Inter-American Convention against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives and other Related Materials. Congressman Engel’s voice reminds others in Congress, in the Administration and in America that acting on this issue is vital not just for Mexico, but for the security and prosperity of both nations as we fight together against transnational organized crime.

 But Congressman Engel’s role has also been well-rounded and holistic. As the former Consul General in New York City, I am well-aware of the considerable Latino community that lives in the Congressman Engel’s 17th district. Recognizing the contributions Latino immigrants make to this great nation, he has been a key voice promoting a comprehensive immigration reform. His support will continue to be critical for getting immigration reform right. This is no minor issue as migration flows between our countries will largely determine whether North America is ready to take the bull by the horns and become, once again, a beacon of economic competitiveness and innovation in the world. There is much that needs yet to be accomplished in Congress, but as Victor Hugo once said, "nothing can stop an idea whose time has come."


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our two countries have developed a strategic relationship that includes a dialogue beyond strictly bilateral issues. As a member of the House Committee of Foreign Affairs, Congressman Engel has been very supportive of initiatives that promote democracy and human rights across regions, including Latin America.

Together with Congressman Engel, we agree that what we need in Latin America is to strengthen liberal democracy; where not only competitive elections become the only game in town to access power, but one in which there are also checks and balances to who attains power. Any attempt to do without these limits will lead to the sort of demagogic democracy that history has shown us not only to be unstable, but also a serious threat to human rights, plurality and justice. And yes, we must ensure that it delivers the goods. This is precisely the challenge that this model faces in Latin America. What is at stake is whether majority rule with minority rights —that is liberal democracy— can deliver sustained economic growth and social justice while ensuring human rights, tolerance, accountability and transparency in the region. With Congressman Engel’s leadership I am convinced that U.S. policy can be a beneficial tool to ensure that the region and the relationship between the U.S. and the rest of the Hemisphere continues to move in that direction.

On behalf of President Felipe Calderón, and of the people of Mexico, it is therefore a distinct honor and privilege, as Mexican Ambassador to the United States, to bestow upon Elliot Engel the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle.


Congressman Engel: please step forward.

For the great service you have performed in deepening and fostering the understanding between our two nations, the Government of Mexico decorates you with the Insignia of the Aztec Eagle:

                        ____________ 0 _______________

  

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As Ambassador to the United States, it is a privilege to honor a friend of Mexico; but the recognition of a friend and ally such as Representative Engel, whose leadership, vision, and personal commitment has done so much for the bilateral relationship, is particularly satisfying for me.

Tweaking Mario Puzo’s off-quoted advice in the “Godfather”, and with the risk of becoming a cliché in the process, decorating Congressman Engle tonight, is about business, but it’s also personal. President Lincoln once said that “vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with vision is making a positive difference.” In Congressman Engel, a member of both the U.S.-Mexico Friendship Caucus, and the Latino-Jewish Caucus, I am sure we will continue to have a superb interlocutor in Congress, someone who will continue to make a difference in favor of our two peoples.

Congratulations!

-Dear Friends of National Geographic

-Ladies and Gentlemen,

-Amigos y amigas,

We are thrilled to showcase Mexico Through the Lens of National Geographic here at the Mexican Cultural Institute. This exhibition represents a truly unique opportunity to enjoy a selection of exceptional images that National Geographic has amassed in countless assignments in Mexico over several decades.

For more than a century, National Geographic has awakened the spirit of discovery and interest in our immediate surroundings and distant lands among both adults and children.

Many of us have fond childhood memories of flipping through the pages of the magazine. We used to feel a sense of amazement as we were exposed to different people and places that existed outside our reality and perhaps only in our imagination, making us aware and perceptive of a larger world. In fact, some of us may still have that feeling today!

Over its long history, Mexico has been a special focal point of the magazine, and at the same time this publication has been instrumental in stretching the boundaries of the Mexico you thought you knew, unveiling new aspects of the country’s exceptionally diverse nature, culture, and peoples; driving exploratory efforts that enhanced our understanding of past civilizations, and serving as a letter of introduction to Mexico for millions of people globally.

The time and dedication that National Geographic has invested in Mexico cannot be underestimated. Countless people, from early archeologists and explorers who made important discoveries and witnessed the heartbeat of a nation; to photo-journalists, scientists and ethnographers who have contributed to shed light on the country’s social and natural diversity.

As the Mexican Ambassador and a true photography aficionado, I am delighted that over the years Mexico has attracted the interest of a wide range of experts from National Geographic. These individuals have played a key role in furthering the understanding of Mexico’s complexity, and it is our pleasure to welcome some of them here this evening.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The exhibition we are opening tonight offers a well-rounded outlook of Mexico over the last century. It covers various aspects of the magazine’s work; from exploration, to nature, ethnographic photo-documentation and urban life.

The great photographer Tina Modotti, who was Italian by birth but Mexican at heart, once said about photography, that “precisely because it can only be produced in the present, and because it is based on what exists objectively before the camera, it takes its place as the most satisfactory medium for registering objective life in all its aspects, and from this comes its documental value.” Few organizations have contributed as much as National Geographic through its photography to document Mexico’s history, peoples, culture, and nature, so we are truly honored to have these prints with us, and through them peer into small vignettes of Mexico’s soul.

Thank you.

Vida National Hispanic Health Leadership Award

17.XI.10

Willard Hotel, Washington DC

Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO, National Alliance for Hispanic Health,

Gov. Bill Richardson, Governor of the State of New Mexico,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

I am honored to receive the 2010 Vision, Innovation, Dedication and Advocacy Award (VIDA) from the National Alliance of Hispanic Health, the nation's oldest and largest network of Hispanic health and human service providers.

I am particularly encouraged by the fact that the Alliance, with its rich network of community-based members, has decided to recognize with this Award the efforts of the Government of Mexico to empower Mexican communities in the U.S. and enhance their well-being by promoting greater access to health care.

As many of you are aware, the hallmark of our strategy towards buttressing the health of Mexican immigrants in the U.S. is the Health Window Program (Ventanilla de Salud). A truly collaborative model, involving Mexican Consulates and local health-providers and organizations, this program was created to  provide Mexican and Latino communities with information about health-related services available in their neighborhoods, to evaluate their health needs and, most importantly, to promote inclusive approaches for disease prevention and public health.

Given that Mexican immigrants are, on average, younger and healthier than the adult U.S. population but, unfortunately, are also less likely than other population groups to have a regular health care provider, we have focused on prevention strategies that will help them to stay healthy and, consequently, able to keep contributing to the prosperity and well-being of this country.

Today, María, a mother of two in Dallas, registered her U.S. born kids in the Children’s Health Insurance Plan of Texas; Jaime, a cook and father of three, received free flu shots in Little Rock, Arkansas along with one hundred more Latinos; and right here, in our DC Health Window, Don Eulalio was diagnosed with first stage diabetes and will follow up his treatment at a community clinic, after having a blood pressure and needs assessment exam performed inside our consulate. The lives of María, Jaime and Eulalio, and of so many of our nationals that had nowhere to go for health care before are being improved by the daily work of 44 Health Windows across the country.

And although the core value of this model is the establishment of the Health Window on our consular premises, thus reinforcing the element of trust and credibility of these health interventions, we literally thought “out of the box” along with our local partners, and created Mobile Health Units in nine cities to reach out and better serve migrant workers.

Altogether, two million people have received preventive health related information since we began this program in 2003, and by early next year, all of our 50 Consulates in the U.S. will have a Health Window, thanks to the 3 million dollars being invested in this program.

But we are not stopping there. A new component added this year to the operation of Health Windows, is the ability for Mexican immigrants in the U.S. to affiliate themselves and their families to the Seguro Popular, a publicly funded health insurance that allows access and comprehensive health coverage in Mexico.

And we could not have done all this —including the Binational Health Week that has just reached its tenth year in 2010— without the support and cooperation of our partners, be they health agencies or local advocacy groups. 350 local agencies are now cooperating with in-kind resources, specialized personnel, examinations and educational sessions to the Health Window program. Thanks to all of them!

But our work is far from over. Our two nations face similar public health challenges. Obesity and diabetes are not only a major public health concern in the U.S.; in recent years, the prevalence of obesity in Mexico has also increased at alarming rates. With intense transborder social networks and converging lifestyles, diseases such as obesity and AIDS have become intertwined and interdependent public health challenges for Mexico and the U.S. Therefore, we need to continue working to reinforce our record of successful collaboration in confronting transnational public health priorities. And we already have a great track record. Last year, our two countries worked together in effectively addressing the H1N1 pandemic. Through a transparent handling of the situation and real-time, close collaboration at the technical, scientific, policy and public advocacy level, Mexico and the U.S. jointly managed to minimize the spreading of this virus and to mitigate human losses.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I firmly believe that these actions truly exemplify Mexico’s approach of shared responsibility towards the construction of orderly and safe immigration flows in North America and to promote prosperity and well-being in the region as a whole.

 

But when we think of common challenges we need also to work together to debunk the myth that migrants are a burden to public services such as healthcare or education. Migrants not only receive less primary care and are less likely to use emergency rooms than us citizens, but study after study shows that even insured immigrants have lower medical expenses than U.S.-born citizens with similar characteristics. Ultimately, most immigrant workers pay taxes, regardless of their immigration status, and even undocumented immigrant workers contribute enormously to the social security trust fund and have historically shared in their fiscal responsibility for health care.

On behalf of all those program coordinators, promotoras de salud, health educators, Mexican consuls, community leaders and partners who have helped us to create a network of Ventanillas de Salud to serve and empower Hispanic population, I accept this recognition and reiterate my commitment for an enhanced promotion of innovative solutions that may jointly benefit our communities.

Muchas gracias!

DISCURSO DEL EMBAJADOR ARTURO SARUKHAN DURANTE LA PRESENTACION DE LA ORDEN DEL AGUILA AZTECA AL VICEPRESIDENTE DEL BANCO DE LA RESERVA FEDERAL DE NY, TERRENCE CHECKI

Mr. Terrence Checki,

Distinguished guests;

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are gathered here to honor a highly distinguished individual and friend of Mexico, and to bestow upon him the Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca, the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle in Degree of Insignia.

 

The Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca was established in 1933 and is the highest decoration awarded by the Mexican Government to foreign nationals, whose work or actions have benefited Mexico and Mexicans.

 

It is thus very fitting that tonight we recognize Terrence J. Checki with this decoration, for the critical role he has played in helping our country build strong macroeconomic foundations through the establishment of mechanisms of financial cooperation between Mexico and the United States. Mr. Checki is one of the few individuals who have witnessed first-hand the evolution of the economic and financial relationship between our two countries for over two decades. But during this time, he has been more than a mere spectator; he has been a key actor in allowing Mexico and the U.S. to engage constructively with and understand one another, particularly at some of the most critical junctures Mexico has faced. At each of these moments he has demonstrated a profound understanding of and commitment to Mexico and its well-being.

 

The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. And from his position at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Mr. Checki has always nurtured a close relationship with Mexican financial authorities. Through this constant interaction with them, he has developed a network of contacts based on trust and friendship enabling him in turn to translate it into speedy and effective policy responses.

 

Mr. Checki’s commitment to understanding Mexico’s perspective and to working hand in hand with our country has been particularly notable in two specific moments in which Mexico’s financial stability faced significant challenges. First, during the debt crisis of the 1980s, he was instrumental in keeping open the channels of communication between Mexico and U.S. financial authorities and the private banking sector in an effective way, many times operating behind the scenes. Mr. Checki’s actions helped pave the way first for a solution to Mexico’s involuntary debt service suspension, and later to the resumption of our country’s ability to make payments and to receive new financing.

 

Terrence J. Checki once again played a starring role during Mexico’s financial crisis in late 1994 and early 1995, contributing to the process of securing the appropriate support from the U.S. Government. As we all know, this financial package helped both nations avert a more serious crisis and contagion in international financial markets.

 

His experience, leadership and vision allowed this international troubleshooter of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to see and understand the significance of the growing interdependence between Mexico and the United States well before many others did.

 

Throughout his tenure at the NY Fed, his actions and commitment have been based on the conviction that the interaction between the Mexican and U.S. economies would eventually demonstrate that a rising tide would lift boats on both sides of our common border. They are also a testament to his understanding of the importance and strategic nature of the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the United States.

 

He has long-known that what is good for Mexico is good for the United States. With this in mind, Mr. Checki has been able to bridge the interests and concerns of authorities and private actors on both sides of our border, ensuring that all understand that U.S. and Mexican interests can and should go hand in hand.

 

It is therefore unsurprising that what brings us here tonight is our desire to honor and celebrate Mr. Checki’s remarkable record of service. On behalf of President Felipe Calderón, and of the people of Mexico, it is therefore a distinct honor and privilege, as Mexican Ambassador to the United States, to bestow upon Mr. Checki the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle,

Mr.  Checki: please step forward.

 

For the great service you have performed in deepening and fostering the understanding between our two nations, the Government of Mexico decorates you with the Insignia of the Aztec Eagle.

. . .

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Seventeen years ago, NAFTA entirely reshaped Mexico-U.S. relations. It deep­ened and expanded our trade and investment ties and transformed our econo­mies, making them more interdependent and integrated. Now, more than ever before, it is clear that no other bilateral relationship is more important for the security and prosperity of the United States than its relationship with Mexico, much the same way that the well-being of the Mexican people is inextricably tied to the well-being of Americans.

 

The success of our recent bilateral engagement has certainly contributed to allow us today to look back, and to feel proud of the long way that Mexico has come from the days of deep debt and recurring cycles of boom and bust. Over the past years, Mexico has experienced a remarkable transformation. It has become a country fully committed to free trade and open markets. It has signed Free Trade and Preferential Access Agreements with over 40 countries, and is one of the nations with the largest number of FTA’s in the world.

 

Moreover, beyond a generally steady rate of economic growth, there has been a remarkable and general improvement in Mexico's quality of life. Many more Mexicans have joined the ranks of the middle class in the past two decades, while education levels and life expectancy have also risen. Additionally, more than fifteen years of progressive social policy have paid off, as poverty levels have fallen steadily for more than a decade.

 

With globalization, however, financial crises have become more diverse in nature, greater in scope, and increasingly rapid in their ability to spread. Who would have thought that in 2008 Mexico would be experiencing the consequences of a financial crisis that originated North as opposed to South of the border! This was certainly a new experience compared to the crises Mexico faced in the 20th century. So, while we don’t know with precision when and how the next financial crisis will emerge, we can certainly be better prepared. And what we DO know is that together, Mexico and the United States are better prepared today than they have ever been before.

 

Mexico’s remarkable turnaround would certainly not have been possible without macroeconomic stability. For nearly two decades now, Mexico has been fully committed to sound economic management, and to staying the course of macroeconomic discipline. Terrence J. Checki has stated in the past that “If the history of financial crises has taught us anything, it is that money can buy time, but only sound policy can bring stability.” By fostering financial coordination, he has contributed to design the sound policies that have helped Mexico achieve such solid fundamentals.

 

Individuals like Terrence Checki set the best example of what building co-stakeholdership between all sectors of society and government on both sides of the border should look like. Thanks to the efforts of visionaries like him, today Mexico and the United States understand each other better, engage in real-time communication to confront future challenges, and have built levees of certainty within an uncertain world. British Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery once said that “Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.” Terrence Checki’s leadership in influencing and fostering the well-being and prosperity of both Mexico and the U.S. will continue to remind us that, when it comes to our bilateral relationship, it is possible to identify a common purpose, and that knowing when to do the right thing, doing the right thing, and selling the right thing, also means accomplishing a smart thing.

 

Congratulations!

 

Palabras en la entrega del Premio “Gesher” a Antonio Villaraigosa

Skirball Center, Los Angeles, CA

27.X.10

 

(TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY AMBASSADOR ARTURO SARUKHAN AT THE AWARD CEREMONONY TO PRESENT THE GESHER PRIZE

TO MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA)

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Estimados Amigos,

 

I am delighted to be in Los Angeles in honor of our good friend Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, for a second time in a month. As some of you know, I came here in late September to bestow the Ohtli Award on the Mayor, with which the Mexican Government recognizes and honors individuals of Mexican or Latino origin whose efforts have contributed to the well-being, prosperity and empowerment of Mexican communities living abroad.

 

As Mexican Ambassador, I am very proud of Mayor Villaraigosa, a Mexican-American who governs one of the most important cities in this country —and the world— and especially one that has a profound connection with Mexico and its people. Besides sharing historical and economic ties, a third of its population is of Mexican origin, and, in fact, the metropolitan area of Los Angeles has the third largest concentration of Mexicans, only after Mexico City and Guadalajara. It is only fitting then that I travel here to help my good friends at the American Jewish Committee honor Mayor Villaraigosa, who certainly embodies the aspirations of millions of Latinos and Mexican-Americans, and the immigrant story of this great nation.

As the son of Armenian refugees fleeing genocide and of Catalonian secular Jews fleeing fascism, I come to L.A. tonight to join in a common cause with the AJC and Mayor Villaraigosa: to give voice to our communities, work for their empowerment, fight prejudice and to ensure that we all pay tribute to one of the foundational tenets of America: its ability to successfully integrate many peoples into one nation.

Mexico believes in building bridges, like the ones Mayor Villarraigosa has been creating in Los Angeles. He is deservedly distinguished tonight with the Gesher Award because he has set himself apart as a leader who successfully brought together the many communities that make up the ethnic and cultural mosaic of Los Angeles. Bridging and empowering communities has been at the heart of Villaraigosa’s political life, from his days as a community organizer to his tenure in public service. He has done this with all, and in particular between the Latino and Jewish communities.

Antonio Villaraigosa has always understood that the key to successful societies hinges on human connections. Bringing communities together is key to successfully implement policies, and nowhere is this truer than at the level of city governments. They are the first conveyor belts between citizens and public policy. It is with city authorities that we interact most constantly and that affect our daily life more directly. It is also at this local level where social participation has more impact and where working with a common purpose brings the most tangible results. Cities can’t afford the separation between government, citizens and private sector; either they work as co-stakeholders or the city doesn’t work at all. Building co-stakeholdership between governments and civil society becomes essential for the well-being of Angelinos, New Yorkers, Londoners or “Chilangos” alike. The Mayor has clearly understood this, and has worked decisively in that direction.

In today’s world, the work of individuals like Mayor Villaraigosa has become even more relevant. I am convinced that we live in a time in which cities, more than states, are at the forefront of globalization. Los Angeles is one of the truest examples of what I would call the return of City-States to the global scene: metropolises that have increasingly become the sparkplugs of globalization, the global hubs of economic vibrancy and technological innovation, laboratories of social and political participation and, as a consequence, of cultural dynamism.

Some of these cities are also a true global microcosm: they are mega populous urban centers where people from all latitudes live in close proximity to one another. Increasingly, they are also places where sharing a living space with people from different cultures and backgrounds becomes a necessity of everyday life. Ensuring that from that necessity, a positive synergy is born, becomes thus essential for any Mayor, and I believe that this is exactly what Mayor Villaraigosa has been accomplishing in Los Angeles.

Parag Khanna, in a recent article in Foreign Policy reminded us that “when Marco Polo set forth from Venice along the emergent Silk Road, he extolled the virtues not of empires, but of the cities that made them great.” Today, as in the times of Marco Polo, cities flourish and rise to bring new ideas to the world. This is a trend that we should embrace, and cherish.

Of course not everything is rosy and peachy for those of us who celebrate the role of the city. For starters, practically, no one, except for babies, likes change. Change is not easy. Change is naturally resisted in nations, as it is in cities. Additionally, the scourge of inequality and prejudice still segregates urban life, pushing some to live “off-the-grid,” and skyscrapers to cast shadows over corrugated tin shacks. Evidently, it is not just up to city governments to be drivers of change or to overcome the challenges of socio-economic inequality. These problems go well beyond the city’s sphere of influence, but city authorities can certainly contribute to foster an innovative and inclusionary urban life.

 

This is why when you come to L.A. today you see both change and inclusive policies working hand in hand. Mayor Villaraigosa’s unprecedented investment –both financial and political- to improve public safety with innovative programs has dramatically reduced crime rates in the city, and also set up safe and friendly public spaces, with the innovative program “Summer Night Lights,” which has transformed previously crime-ridden communities into safe communities.

But he has done this also by taking the bull by the horns to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots in Los Angeles, by empowering communities through education reform, fostering mixed-income housing policies, and designing and implementing policies to attract business, and therefore jobs, to downtown L.A.

Moreover, it is equally important for the future success of global cities to be environmentally sustainable. Cities are very efficient ways of living; they came about because proximity makes pooling resources easier. Today we have to make cities even more efficient and greener. Under Mayor Villaraigosa, Los Angeles has met Kyoto targets for reducing greenhouse gases four years ahead of schedule and has achieved the target of generating over 10% of energy from renewable sources by this year.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

When you look at a city, you can read the hopes, aspirations and pride of everyone who built it, and Mayor Villaraigosa is building upon the hopes, aspirations and pride of Angelinos of all stripes and walks of life as the core pillars of a new direction for Los Angeles, and for a better way to interact and live together. Mario Cuomo once said that one must campaign in poetry and govern in prose. Mayor Villaraigosa’s prose has certainly led to some great poetry in the streets of L.A.

 

Felicidades, Sr. Alcalde.

 

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