White House stresses respect for Fox

Mexican leader cancels meeting with Bush

Mexican President Vicente Fox joined President Bush during a visit to the White House last year.

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- The White House Thursday stressed its respect for Mexican President Vicente Fox, following his decision to cancel an upcoming meeting with President Bush to protest the overnight execution in Texas of a man from Mexico.

Mexican national Javier Suarez Medina was executed in Bush's home state for the 1988 murder of Dallas police drug agent Lawrence Cadena. Fox had made several appeals to U.S. authorities to commute Suarez's sentence to life in prison.

Medina is said to have been unaware that the Mexican consulate could have offered help in the time after his 1988 arrest.

"We understand President Fox is unable to meet with President Bush while President Bush is in Crawford," Jim Orr, a White House spokesman, told reporters traveling with Bush in Iowa. "President Bush respects President Fox, and the two have an excellent professional relationship and a strong friendship."

Orr added that the tie between the two men "reflects the deep bond between the two countries. Bush looks forward to his next meeting with President Fox."

Fox was to have joined Bush at his Texas ranch later this month.

The two leaders discussed the matter Tuesday before the execution took place, a White House official confirmed.