In an interrogation session before federal lawmakers, Foreign Relations Secretary Patricia Espinosa denied that recent high- level security meetings with U.S. and Canadian authorities violated Mexico´s sovereignty.Espinosa responded to fears voiced by opposition legislators that a recent agreement among the nations, known as the Alliance for North American Security and Prosperity, was an attempt by the United States to impose its own foreign policy on Mexico.
The accord, signed by former President Vicente Fox and his U.S. and Canadian counterparts in 2005, seeks to protect cross-border commerce while boosting security through cooperation in areas such as intelligence, customs and emergency response systems. Espinosa said she, along with Economy Secretary Eduardo Sojo and Interior Secretary Francisco Ramírez Acuña, will travel to Canada on Thursday to attend the next round of talks.
Lawmakers, however, voiced concerns about being excluded from the negotiations.
"We are taking steps toward the integration of our economy, military, energy and security with the United States . And Congress isn´t being invited to participate, "said Dep. Cuauhtémoc Sandoval of the left-leaning Democratic Revolution Party (PRD).
Meanwhile, Rodolfo Solís of the Labor Party accused the administration of holding "quasi-secret military meetings in Canada" and suggested the reunions violate the Constitution.
Espinosa denied the accord was unconstitutional, or that the military was being placed under U.S. control in the plan.
"Our work to protect the region is directed at our own Mexican citizens," she said.
Espinosa also assured lawmakers for the second time in two weeks that the administration is looking to "normalize" relations with Cuba and Venezuela.
