An intensive effort to boost trade links between the Republic of Ireland and Mexico will be made after talks yesterday between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Mexican president, Mr Vicente Fox.
During the first day of a five-day visit, Mr Ahern said he hoped the trip would develop the relationship between the two countries that has been growing over the last decade. In a bid to learn from Irish efforts since the 1960s to improve education, the two leaders agreed to talks in February between the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, and his Mexican counterpart. "A very important aspect of my time here to is to improve the economic and commercial links to the benefit of both of our countries," he told Mr Fox.
Besides education, the Mexican government is keen to learn from Ireland's successful development of the computer software industry, spurred on by the presence of US multinationals.
"Irish and Mexican people share many fundamental values. First, and perhaps most importantly, we both know the value of independence and cherish it greatly," Mr Ahern said at the official welcoming ceremony. In addition, both Mexico and Ireland know the need and the value of respecting cultural diversity. "In Ireland, we are doing this in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect to solve the problems left by history."
"We, therefore, as Irish people have a special appreciation for the efforts of president Fox to foster respect for the cultural diversity that exists in this richly diverse country," Mr Ahern said.
During talks later, Mr Ahern and the Mexican president concentrated on preparations for the early 2004 EU/Latin American summit to be hosted by the Mexicans during the Irish Presidency of the EU. The agenda for the EU/Latin American meeting has yet to be agreed. "It is important that it is not only useful, but meaningful. It must produce results and not just be a talking shop." Emphasising that Mexico is a secure location for Irish investors, Mr Ahern pointed to the long-standing, and successful presence of both Smurfits and the Kerry Group there.
"They see that their presence here has been successful. That experience is bringing others," said Mr Ahern, who emphasised that Mexican-based companies can export duty-free into the US. President Fox said Ireland had offered "determined support" to Mexico during the negotiations that led up to the trade deal between Mexico and the EU. He said he was confident the Mexican government would continue to have Ireland's enthusiastic "collaboration" for next year's encounter with the EU. Despite protests by Mexican farmers this week, president Fox said the North American Fair Trade Agreement with the US had been "on balance" favourable towards Mexico.
Dealing with the cultural links between Ireland and Mexico, Mr Fox pointed to the role played by Irishmen on the Mexican side during the 1848 war with the US that led to the loss of Texas and California. "At that time, a brave group of Irish soldiers called the St Patrick's Battalion decided to confront the foreign intervention on Mexican soil," said Mr Fox, before he and Mr Ahern inspected a guard of honour.
Questioned about Mexico's much-criticised human rights record, Mr Ahern paid tribute to the efforts made by Mr Fox since his election to improve the situation. "I know that you cannot change all of these things overnight. I live in a small island where we have had considerable human rights abuses in Northern Ireland over many years," he said.
Later, Mr Ahern travelled to the Mexicans' garden of remembrance, the Altar a la Patria, to lay a wreath to all those who died in conflicts, including the St Patrick's Battalion.