President Barack Obama 4th of July message
Today, we are called upon to remember not only the day our country was born,but also the indomitable spirit of the first American citizens who made that day possible. We are called to remember how unlikely it was that our American experiment would succeed at all; that a small band of patriots would declare independence from a powerful empire; and that they would form, in the new
world, what the old world had never known-a government of, by, and for the people. (complete text)

Four New University Partnerships Launched to Support Mexico’s Justice System Reform
Mexico City, June 25, 2009 – The United States Embassy in Mexico, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its TIES (Training, Internship, Exchanges and Scholarships) Program, announces four new university partnerships between Mexican and U.S. institutions to support Mexico’s efforts to modernize its justice system. (complete text)

U.S. to Provide Antiviral Medication to Latin America and the Caribbean for Novel H1N1 Influenza
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the United States will provide 420,000 treatment courses of Tamiflu (Oseltamavir) to the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) to fight the novel H1N1 influenza in Latin America and the Caribbean.The Secretary made the announcement while attending a series of high-level meetings for health ministers throughout the Americas in Cancun, Mexico. (complete text)

Obama: Honduran Crisis Must be Resolved Peacefully and Lawfully
Washington — Political tensions in Honduras must be resolved peacefully and with respect for democratic norms, President Obama says, voicing his concern over the June 28 detention and expulsion of President José Manuel Zelaya Rosales. (complete text)

Over Fifty Indicted Criminals Extradited By Mexico This Year
Mexico City, June 29, 2009 – On June 25, 2009, the government of Mexico extradited three fugitives to the United States, marking 54 extraditions since the beginning of 2009, and demonstrating the Calderon administration’s continuing strong commitment to bilateral law enforcement cooperation. (complete text)

President Obama Signs Supplemental Budget, Increasing Merida Initiative Funding for Mexico to $1.12 Billion
Mexico City, June 25, 2009 – Yesterday, President Barack Obama signed into law a Supplemental Appropriations Act that includes $420 million in funding for the Merida Initiative in Mexico. This brings funding for the Merida Initiative in Mexico to $1.12 billion, including the $400 million in the FY2008 budget and the $300 million in the FY2009 budget.  (complete text)

Secretaries Napolitano and Carstens Sign Bilateral Agreement to Strengthen Security and Facilitate Trade
Washington, D.C., June 15, 2009 - U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Mexican Minister of Finance and Public Credit Agustin Carstens today signed a Letter of Intent that seeks to strengthen border enforcement by creating a framework for establishing bi-national Port Security Management Committees, developing a joint implementation plan for cooperative capacity building, and increasing trade facilitation between the two nations through increased information sharing and a harmonized customs clearance process.(complete text)

U.S. Treasury Adds Sanctions to Drug Trafficker’s Illicit Network
Mexico City, June 12, 2009 – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today added 15 entities and 9 individuals in Mexico, Colombia and the Caribbean to its list of Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs); these entities and individuals are linked to Fabio Enrique Ochoa Vasco (a.k.a. “Juan Carlos Martinez Perez”), a significant Colombian drug trafficker who was designated as an SDNT principal in 2007..(complete text)

President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Carlos Pascual as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico
Mexico City, June 4, 2009 – Today President Obama announced his intent to nominate Carlos Pascual, Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy Studies Program at the Brookings Institution, as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico. Mr. Pascual’s nomination requires approval by the U.S. Senate.(complete text)

U.S. Awards Grants to Support Competitiveness and Biodiversity Conservation
Mexico City, June 4, 2009 – June 5 is World Environment Day, and the U.S. remains committed to promoting good stewardship of the planet’s resources. (complete text)

The President’s Speech in Cairo: A New Beginning
PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Thank you very much.  Good afternoon.  I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions.  For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning; and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt's advancement. (complete text)

U.S. Under Secretary of Homeland Security Bersin Meets Mexican Counterparts
Mexico City, June 3, 2009 – Following three days of meetings at the U.S. Embassy and with Mexican counterparts, Alan Bersin, Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Special Representative for Border Affairs, expressed confidence that cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico is showing solid results.(complete text)

Secretary Hillary Clinton Intervention at Pathways to Prosperity Ministerial
San Salvador, May 31, 2009 –SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. I am delighted to be with you today and I feel privileged to be in El Salvador at this historic moment for the Salvadoran people. The transfer of power that we will witness tomorrow exemplifies the progress that has occurred throughout our hemisphere during the past two decades. (complete text)

Secretary Hillary Clinton Remarks at Millennium Challenge Corporation Event
San Salvador, May 31, 2009 – SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Eduardo. I appreciate that very kind introduction. But I especially appreciate the work that you and others are doing on behalf of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the partnership that has been created here in El Salvador.
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U.S. Treasury Targets Key Link Between Mexican and Colombian Drug Cartels 
Mexico City, May 27, 2009 – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today identified Colombian drug trafficker Pedro Antonio Bermudez Suaza (alias “El Arquitecto”), who operated a trafficking network in Mexico for twenty years, as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker (SDNT). Mexican authorities captured Bermudez Suaza in Mexico City on October 2, 2008.
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Land and Sea Phase of WHTI Takes Effect June 1 
Mexico City, May 19, 2009 – The U.S. Embassy would like to remind the public that the land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) will enter in effect on June 1, 2009.
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Armored Vehicles for Counter Narcotics Efforts
Mexico City, May 15, 2009 – Today the PGR took delivery of eight armored vehicles as part of U.S. - funded programs to increase Mexico’s capacity to confront narco-traffickers and criminal organizations.
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President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the individuals for key administration posts.

President Obama said, It gives me great confidence that these talented individuals will be joining my administration as we work to rebuild our economy, preserve our environment and keep our nation safe. Their experience and dedication will be of great value to the American people, and I look forward to working with these individuals in the coming months and years. (complete text)

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT LATINO TOWN HALL
THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Hola. (Applause.) Thank you. Please, everybody have a seat. (Applause.) Muchas gracias. Thank you very much. Please, everybody have a seat.
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Viva Obama! (Applause.)  (complete text)

Embassy Resumes Consular Services 
Mexico City, May 7, 2009 – Mexico and the United States continue to cooperate closely to mitigate the outbreak of 2009-H1N1 influenza.  As restrictions on public gatherings in Mexico have eased, the Embassy is moving to resume normal operations. (complete text)

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT AT CINCO DE MAYO EVENT
Mexico City, May 4, 2009. - "Bienvenidos. Welcome to Cinco de Cuatro -- (laughter) -- Cinco de Mayo at the White House. We are a day early, but we always like to get a head start here at the Obama White House."(complete text)

U.S. Government Delivers Further 1 Million Dollars in Equipment to Support Mexico’s Efforts to Contain the Spread of H1N1 Influenza
Mexico City, May 3, 2009. - The 100,000 Personal Protective Equipment kits (PPEs), donated by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), include items such as coveralls, respirator masks and goggles that allow first responders effectively to help others without risking their own personal safety.(complete text)

U.S. Government Announces 5 Million Dollars to Support Mexico’s Efforts to Contain the Spread of H1N1 Influenza
Mexico City, April 29, 2009. - The government of the United States is providing 5 million dollars to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to support Mexico’s efforts to contain the spread of the H1N1 Influenza in Mexico. 
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Embassy Takes Precautionary Measures
Mexico City, April 25, 2009 – The Embassy in Mexico City has decided to suspend processing of the approximately 5100 non-immigrant visa appointments scheduled Monday, April 27 through Wednesday, April 29. In addition, our services to American citizens will be limited to citizenship requests (passports and consular reports of birth abroad, or CRBA) and emergency assistance only.
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President Obama Designates Three Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations Under the Kingpin Act 
Mexico City, April 15, 2009 – Today President Obama submitted to Congress a report on three Mexican drug trafficking groups that he has determined are Significant Foreign Narcotics Traffickers appropriate for sanctions under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.  These organizations are the Sinaloa Cartel, Los Zetas, and La Familia Michoacana. (complete text)

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer Leads U.S. Congressional Delegation to Mexico
Mexico City, April 6, 2009 – From April 3-5, Representative Steny Hoyer led a delegation of ten members of the House of Representatives in a visit to Mexico. The group met with Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora and other law enforcement officials. At the Secretariat of Public Security (SSP) operational base at Iztapalapa, in Mexico City, they received a briefing on Plataforma Mexico, and toured the Command Center, the special operations units, and the helicopter program.(complete text)

U.S. Attorney General Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano - Firm on Bilateral Cooperation
Mexico City, April 3, 2009 – At the close of a two-day arms trafficking conference April 2 in Cuernavaca, Mexico, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano underscored U.S. Government commitment to work together with their Mexican partners in the fight against organized crime and the drug cartels. Holder and Napolitano met today with President Felipe Calderon, and continued their discussions with law-enforcement counterparts in Mexico City. (complete text)

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