Press Releases 08
Groundbreaking Ceremony in Tijuana: Excerpts of Remarks
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Tijuana, April 3, 2008- “Today I visited Tijuana to participate
in the groundbreaking ceremony for a new U.S. Consulate General,
and was honored by the presence of Baja California Governor
Jose Osuna Millan, Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos, and Tijuana
Secretary of Public Safety Alberto Capella, to witness this
new beginning. Whether the issue is immigration, water, commerce,
law enforcement or border security, if you really want to
understand, you have to come to Tijuana.
“Below are excerpts of my remarks from the groundbreaking
ceremony.
“It is impossible to stand in this spot, where a new Consulate
building will soon begin to rise, and not be struck by the
importance of this area for our economies and ways of life.
I could speak of millions of dollars of commercial trade,
of all of the vehicles that cross the border, and the jobs
they create, but this is where the statistics – impressive
as they are – fall short.
“Like so many of you, I have seen violence related to narco-trafficking
spread. I have also seen law enforcement officers who protect
us become victims of the drug cartels that operate in both
our countries. Like so many of you, I have heard the concerns
of everyday Mexicans from all across the country, concerns
about their security, their communities, and the safety of
their children.
“But I've also seen both the Mexican and the U.S. governments,
steadfast and courageous in their commitments to fighting
those who threaten our societies. They have set new records
in the volume of seizures, both cash and cocaine, and more
drug kingpins have been extradited than ever before.
“And we know that the commitment is not only at the federal
level. Ron tells me that these first months have made it clear
that Governor Osuna’s administration is committed to restoring
order and battling organized crime. State and local level
law enforcement agencies along the border have forged important
binational relationships. Because, if we do not share the
responsibility and blame each other, only the criminals win.
“The construction of this new Consulate is a sign of just
how important the bilateral relationship is. We are constructing
this building for the future, a common future, that we share
each day more, something we have done for centuries and will
continue doing forever. I would like to end this speech as
I always do, by simply asking that God bless both the United
States and Mexico, and today particularly, this region that
unites us.”
To read the entire text, click here
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