Powell meets Mexican foreign minister, touts 'positive relationship'

Powell

From CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met Mexico's foreign minister Tuesday in the first of what Powell said would be a series of frequent discussions between them.

Thursday, Powell is scheduled to meet with the new president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, in what will be the first meeting of the Bush administration with the new leader.

At a news conference after his meeting with Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda, Powell spoke about the "very, very positive relationship" the United States has with Mexico.

The meeting followed an announcement by the White House last week that President Bush's first international trip would be to Mexico, where he will meet next month with President Vicente Fox.

ALSO Lockerbie trial verdicts due   MESSAGE BOARD   • Zimbabwe's future   • U.S. - Cuba relations

Powell called Bush's decision "powerful evidence of the special place Mexico holds in our national priorities."

Citing Mexico's "sound economy" and "solid democratic institutions" as new opportunities for the U.S.-Mexico relationship, Powell said Bush and Fox will use the upcoming summit to "chart a course for mutual cooperation" over the next several years in areas such as migration, law enforcement and trade.

In their meeting, Powell and Castaneda discussed bilateral issues -- such as the need to create programs to allow Mexican migrant workers to travel safely to the United States -- as well as the drug-trafficking problem in Colombia and the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Quebec in June.

They also touched upon Cuba, which was an area of disagreement in the relationship. Castaneda noted Mexico's belief that economic engagement was most effective in bringing Cuba back into the community of nations in the region, and said strengthening ties with Havana would be one of the main priorities of the Fox administration.

"Mexico is ... a sovereign nation, free to pursue its own foreign policy and improve ties as it sees fit," Powell said, but added that the United States will keep sanctions in place and "pursue our relations with Cuba in a way that lets Mr. Castro know that we disapprove of his regime."

With a verdict in the Lockerbie trial expected Wednesday, Powell acknowledged that the Libyans have cooperated with the trial, but said that there are other things the Libyan government will be expected to do before U.N. sanctions are lifted.

Powell also met Tuesday with Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdulilah al-Khatib, and emphasized the importance of a free trade agreement between the United States and Jordan. The two men also discussed the state of the Middle East peace process and the threat that Iraq poses to the region, said State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

Powell also spoke Tuesday by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov -- the first conversation the men have had since Powell was sworn in last week.

Boucher characterized the discussion as a "good first initial conversation," and said the two men expressed a desire to meet as soon as their schedules permit.

In Powell's meeting Thursday with Kabila, the secretary of state is expected to press for the new Congolese president to work with the leaders of Rwanda, Uganda, Angola and Zimbabwe, as well as with his own domestic warring factions, to implement the Lusaka agreement, which calls for a ceasefire on all sides.

Since the assassination earlier this month of Kabila's father, Laurent, the United States has been reluctant to publicly embrace the son as the country's new leader.

Kabila will be in Washington for a National Prayer Breakfast. The event, sponsored by a private organization, will host several other world leaders as well.

Boucher said Powell's decision to meet with Kabila was "taking advantage of the opportunity" since the Congolese leader would already be in Washington, but noted that Kabila was not coming at the invitation of the U.S. government.

Powell ceremoniously sworn in as secretary of state
January 26, 2001

U.S. Department of State

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.