Excerpts From the Daily Press Briefing Pertaining to Western Hemisphere Affairs Full Briefing
QUESTION: Robert, on Mexico?
MR. WOOD: I just want to make --
QUESTION: Yes. I wanted to ask about this policy dinner that was listed on the schedule. What’s the agenda and who’s participating? Is it just a U.S. Government meeting or --
MR. WOOD: Well, I don’t have the list of who’s attending. But the Secretary plans to hold, you know, a number of policy dinners on a range of subjects throughout her tenure. And this is just another one of those dinners. And she’s going to be very interested to hear the attendees and their views on the situation in Mexico – the U.S.-Mexico bilateral relationship. And, you know, that’s what I have.
QUESTION: Is it like experts or --
MR. WOOD: Well, I don’t have the list, but it’s people who are obviously very familiar with the country of Mexico who are, you know, experts and others who have an interest. She wants to try to tap into as wide a variety of views on Mexico and the bilateral relationship as she can.
QUESTION: Can I ask --
QUESTION: So it’s people outside the government in addition to inside (inaudible)?
MR. WOOD: I believe there – you know, I mean, I believe that there will be people from outside the government who will be on that guest list. I just don’t have a list in front of me.
QUESTION: Can I ask a follow-up? A couple of weeks ago, you released the Travel Warning for Mexico. Now that spring break season is upon us, do you have any advice for young people considering traveling to Mexico or planning to travel to Mexico? What is the State Department advice to those people?
MR. WOOD: Well, every year, many young people, other tourists go to Mexico. As I’ve said before, I travel to Mexico regularly. It’s a great --
QUESTION: Do you? (Laughter.)
MR. WOOD: Well, what’s wrong with that? What did I --
QUESTION: Well, (inaudible)? (Laughter.)
MR. WOOD: Okay, I’m guilty. I have gone down at least once in my life for spring break. But look, Mexico is a wonderful place to go and vacation. People just need to, you know, take sensible precautions to protect themselves. I don’t have anything more to say on it than that. I mean, it’s just using common sense and taking necessary precautions.
QUESTION: But considering the uptick --
QUESTION: Can I follow on that, please?
MR. WOOD: Sure.
QUESTION: Considering the uptick in violence there, you know, with the drug cartels, there’s no extra special caution you’re extending to the spring break season?
MR. WOOD: Well, we have issued, you know, travel notices for the American people about Mexico. But again, what we’re talking about here is just basic common sense, not doing things that you – you know, that you wouldn’t do normally. You know, Mexico, like many other countries, has issues with crime. But if you’re sensible and you take the right steps and exercise caution, you’ll have a great trip.
QUESTION: I thought that was the entire – that’s the utter antithesis of spring break, being sensible and doing – (laughter) – so are you –
MR. WOOD: Let’s not delve into your history with spring break, Matt. (Laughter.)
QUESTION: No, no, no, no. I think you are the one who just admitted that you went --
MR. WOOD: Okay, I’ve gone to Mexico on spring break, yes.
QUESTION: Is there basic common sense in Mexico on spring break?
MR. WOOD: I’ve used common sense. I’m still with us.
QUESTION: Is there a reason – well, what’s the deal with the timing of this? Why Mexico? Why today?
MR. WOOD: Look, as I said --
QUESTION: I mean, the – I’m talking about the dinner.
MR. WOOD: Yeah. Well, Mexico is an important country for the United States. I mean, that’s very clear. And there are some issues that we have with Mexico. And the Secretary is very interested in --
QUESTION: Yes, but is there a particular reason why she is having a Mexico policy dinner today, you know, Thursday, March 11
th – well, 12
th?
MR. WOOD: The Secretary felt that she wanted to have a dinner at this time, so she’s doing that.
QUESTION: Is the Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano, attending the dinner?
MR. WOOD: I honestly don’t know. I’ll see if I can get you a list of who is attending. I think it’s a fair question.
Please.
QUESTION: Still on Mexico. You know, recently, Mr. Blair has mentioned that with the problem with the narcotraffickers in Mexico, the federal government doesn’t have control of some parts of the territory. Today, President Calderon has declared there is a campaign against Mexico by the U.S. Government. And he’s invited any official from the U.S. Government to make like, a tour to Mexico City to show them that he has the control of the country.
What’s your response to that? Is there really a campaign against Mexico or is your vision – is the U.S. mission that Mexico is not safe and not as – not for terrorists, but in general? Why you don’t say that?
MR. WOOD: No. First of all, there is no campaign against the Government of Mexico. We do have concerns about the violence on the border. There is no secret. The Mexican Government is very concerned about it. It’s taking steps to try to do what it can to, you know, stop this violence. But as I said, you know, with regard to people traveling to Mexico, Mexico is a friendly country. It’s an open country. It’s a very warm and hospitable country. And people just need to exercise caution when they travel there.
QUESTION: Just (inaudible). Mr. Blair didn’t say one time that argument. He mentioned it three times in the last couple – two weeks on Capitol Hill, the same argument.
MR. WOOD: Well, I was responding to the question.
QUESTION: I mean, what’s the problem? You don’t share information with the Director of National Intelligence, or what’s the difference? I mean, you say one thing and he says other thing. There is no coordination in the U.S. Government?
MR. WOOD: There is coordination in the U.S. Government. I just outlined for you what the U.S. – what the State Department’s position is with regard to Mexico and travel to Mexico, and I also spelled out for you that there are – that with regard to Mexico, the United States Government is not, you know, trying to hatch any plan against Mexico. That’s just not the case.
We work cooperatively with the Government of Mexico on a range of issues, including fighting narcotics trafficking and border crime. We will continue to do that, and we have a good relationship with the government of President Calderon, and I have addressed the issue of tourists going to Mexico. I think people need to understand that there are going to be issues between the United States and Mexico, as there are between the United States and other countries. We try to work on those differences as best we can, and I think I’ve spoken to your question.
QUESTION: Just very quickly, one more on Mexico.
MR. WOOD: Yeah, sure.
QUESTION: Specifically, Obama briefed some regional reporters yesterday and he said that he’s considering bringing in the National Guard to supplement troops that are already on the border. Can you talk about this at all? What would be the trigger point that would prompt the President to do that?
MR. WOOD: Well, you’re – look, I would first of all refer you to the White House for, you know, comments that President Obama has made. I’ve just – I think I’ve said all that I can say on the issue of Mexico at this moment.
