PRESIDENTE MESSICO ANNULLA INCONTRO CON BUSH IN TEXAS

Protesta contro l'esecuzione di un condannato per omicidio

Citt� del Messico, 15 ago. - Il presidente messicano Vicente Fox ha annullato il viaggio in Texas che prevedeva un incontro con il presidente degli Stati Uniti George W. Bush. La decisione � stata presa per protestare contro l'esecuzione, avvenuta questa notte, del messicano Javier Suarez Medina, condannato per l'omicidio di un poliziotto.

Il viaggio di Fox prevedeva tappe in diverse citt� del Texas e al ranch di Bush dal 26 al 28 agosto. Ma dopo la decisione delle autorit� texane di ignorare la petizione di Fox e dopo l'avvenuta esecuzione di Suarez, Fox ha deciso di rinunciare al viaggio.

"Questa decisione � un inequivocabile segnale di protesta per l'esecuzione" ha detto il capo dei portavoce di Fox, Rodolfo Elizondo, in una conferenza stampa. "Sarebbe stato inappropriato, in queste deplorevoli circostanze, dare seguito al programmato viaggio nel Texas" ha detto Elizondo.

Suarez ha ammesso di aver sparato all'agente anti-droga Lawrence Cadena durante un festino a base di droga a Dallas, nel Texas, nel 1988, quando aveva diciannove anni, ma ha detto che al momento non sapeva che la sua vittima fosse un poliziotto.

Fox ha inoltrato diversi appelli per la clemenza, sottolineando che a Suarez, cittadino messicano, era stato negato il diritto di chiedere l'assistenza del consolato messicano al momento del suo arresto. In base alla convenzione di Vienna sulle relazioni consolari, agli stranieri detenuti va ricordato il loro diritto di contattare il loro consolato.

Secondo le autorit� texane, non era chiaro da quale parte del confine Suarez fosse nato.

Mexican Leader Cancels Trip to Texas

 Aug 15, 2002

By MARK STEVENSON, 

MEXICO CITY  - President Vicente Fox canceled a trip to Texas and a meeting with President Bush  to protest the state's execution Wednesday of convicted cop killer Javier Suarez Medina.

Fox had announced an Aug. 26-28 visit to four Texas cities and to Bush's ranch. But at a hastily organized press conference Wednesday night, presidential spokesman Rodolfo Elizondo said Fox wouldn't make the trip because Texas executed Suarez, who Fox says is a Mexican national.

"This decision is an unequivocal signal of rejection of the execution," Elizondo said. "It would be inappropriate, in these lamentable circumstances, to go ahead with the visit to Texas."

White House spokesman Jimmy Orr said Bush knew about Fox's decision and emphasized the two leaders' strong ties.

"President Bush respects President Fox and the two have an excellent professional relationship and a strong friendship that reflects the deep bonds between their two countries," Orr said. "President Bush looks forward to his next meeting with President Fox."

There was no indication when the Bush-Fox session would be rescheduled. Another administration official said he did not believe the decision would "dent" relations between the two countries.

Earlier, a White House official said Fox and Bush spoke by telephone Tuesday night, but did not speak Wednesday. The official would not disclose what the two leaders discussed.

Suarez, 33, was put to death by lethal injection Wednesday evening after apologizing for the crime and asking forgiveness from the relatives of the slain police officer.

The case strained relations between Mexico and the United States, with Fox and Mexican lawmakers issuing last-minute appeals for clemency and the prisoner's relatives and friends praying for his life in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras.

Suarez admitted he shot and killed anti-drug agent Lawrence Cadena during a drug bust in Dallas in 1988, but said he didn't know his victim was a policeman.

Fox issued several appeals for clemency, saying Suarez was denied his right to assistance from the Mexican consulate at the time of his arrest. Under the Vienna Convention of Consular Relations, detained foreign nationals must be told of their right to contact their consulates.

Texas officials said it was unclear on which side of the border Suarez was born.

In stark contrast to past executions of Mexicans in the United States, a mere four people turned up outside the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City to protest.

Fox, the most pro-U.S. president in Mexico's recent history, is already widely seen as having been brushed off by the American government in his appeals for a comprehensive immigration accord. For many, the scheduled execution emphasized his lack of influence north of the border.

Members of Fox's conservative National Action Party urged him to go to Texas � but to deliver a "respectful but firm speech" on the issue to Gov. Rick Perry, said National Action congressman Tarcisio Navarrete.

In Piedras Negras, across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas, Suarez's family and supporters prayed in vain for a pardon.

"The truth is, the community has been affected by this case," said the Rev. Juan Manuel Riojas.

Seventeen Mexicans face the death penalty in Texas and 54 in all of the United States, according to Mexico's foreign ministry. Four have been executed over the past 10 years: three in Texas and one in Virginia.

Mexico refuses to extradite people who might face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole in another country. Mexico opposes both punishments.