Visiting Mexican President Vicente Fox (left) with Prime Minister P.J. Patterson at Jamaica House yesterday just before a communique was signed between Jamaica and Mexico. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
PRESIDENT VICENTE Fox said Mexico and Jamaica were in the final stages of determining a proposal for the reform of the United Nations.
President Fox, who concludes a brief working visit to Jamaica today, said he and Prime Minister P.J. Patterson discussed the matter in recognition of a request for suggestions from United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
"We are actually in the final stages of our discussion on the U.N. in the 21st century. We obviously realise that this reform has to be integral, it has to go beyond the Security Council and that it should seek democratisation," the Mexican President said through an interpreter yesterday.
President Fox was speaking during a press briefing at Jamaica House, shortly after signing a joint communiqué reaffirming yester-day's wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
PRESENTATION
"We are finalising our position and arranging a meeting of friends of the U.N. to present our proposal, which should be a consensual one, before the U.N. assembles itself," Mr. Fox said.
Among the other issues discussed during today's meeting of the two leaders, were the recent election of a new Secretary-General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the upcoming OAS General Assembly, to be held in Fort Lauderdale in the United States.
The two leaders also discussed the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and urged
that the long-stalled negotiations resume soon.
Mr. Patterson stressed that
the free trade agreement, which should have been introduced this year and has raised concerns in some quarters, was an important instrument for regional development.
"Both of us are agreed that the FTAA is an important element of the hemispheric process," Prime Minister Patterson said.
He added: "It is one which provides a useful mechanism for boosting trade and investment within the region. We are both urging that the negotiations will resume in earnest in the shortest possible time."
The two leaders also reaffirmed their resolve to work together to promote the social, political and economic development of Haiti and its people.
CLEANING UP HAITI
They also vowed to assist in strengthening democracy, security and the rule of law in that country.
But President Fox's visit was also geared toward promoting trade and investment between the two nations and Prime Minister Patterson updated him on the progress being made toward the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
Mr. Patterson told the Mexican President that countries like Mexico, would be able to explore a range of trade and investment opportunities across the region.
Mexican private sector representatives also met with their local counterparts to discuss opportunities for investment between the two countries.
