FOREIGN SECRETARY JOSE ANTONIO MEADE PARTICIPATES IN THE 40TH SICA SUMMIT

• Mexico attended the Presidents’ Summit of the Central American Integration System (SICA) in support of the process of regional integration.

• Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio Meade reaffirmed Mexico's readiness to strengthen its ties with Central America.

• The Mexican Foreign Secretary met with the Foreign Ministers of Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Panama.

On his first international trip as head of the Foreign Ministry and in representation of President Enrique Peña Nieto, Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio Meade Kuribreña attended the 40th Meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Central American Integration System (SICA) held in Managua, Nicaragua.

During the meeting, held at the invitation of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega in his role as SICA President Pro-tempore, Foreign Secretary Meade delivered a message from President Peña Nieto emphasizing Mexico’s readiness to strengthen its ties with the Central American countries. It also stressed the importance Mexico attaches to strengthening the political dialogue to further cooperation in ways that improve security and development in the region.

The Foreign Secretary reiterated Mexico’s interest and readiness to help strengthen SICA. He also explained President Peña Nieto’s public policy proposals for the next six years and their clear implications for Mexico’s international affairs.

During the SICA Summit, Foreign Secretary José Antonio Meade met separately with the foreign ministers of Nicaragua, Samuel Santos; Honduras, Arturo Corrales; Costa Rica, Enrique Castillo; Panama, Romulo Roux; and Guatemala, Harold Caballeros.

With Foreign Secretary Santos, Foreign Secretary Meade discussed various bilateral issues, including political, economic and cooperation issues. The foreign ministers also talked about the consular protection provided by the Mexican government to several Mexicans involved in a trial in Managua. Under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Mexico’s embassy has been following the case to ensure compliance with due process. This involves contact with the defense attorneys and prosecutors in the case. Foreign Secretary Meade Santos expressed to Foreign Minister Santos that the Mexican government respects the judicial process in Nicaragua and he reiterated Mexico’s willingness to continue cooperating with the process, based on the bilateral mechanisms for cooperation and exchange of information.

Foreign Secretary Meade then held a bilateral meeting with Honduran Foreign Minister Arturo Corrales, who explained to Foreign Secretary Meade the events of the last few hours in Tegucigalpa, putting them into Honduras’ political context. The Mexican Foreign Secretary thanked him for the information and said that Mexico firmly believes that the consolidation of democracy requires full respect for constitutional order, the rule of law and the balance of powers.

The Mexican and Costa Rican officials discussed the progress of the bilateral relationship. Foreign Minister Castillo reiterated the invitation of President Laura Chinchilla for the Mexican president to make a State visit to Costa Rica for a Mexico-SICA summit.

With Panamanian Foreign Minister Roux, Foreign Secretary Meade reviewed bilateral issues and confirmed the good understanding between the two countries. They agreed to hold a meeting of the Binational Commission in 2013 and they discussed the progress made by Panama in joining the Pacific Alliance.

Foreign Minister Caballeros and Foreign Secretary Meade reiterated the interest of Mexico and Guatemala in strengthening development cooperation for their shared border and finding development projects under the Yucatán Agreement.

Following this meeting, Mexican and Guatemalan officials will hold a meeting next week in Guatemala to jointly assess the bilateral relationship and the shared vision for cooperation and the economic relationship in the short-, medium- and long-term.

While in Managua, Foreign Secretary Meade also met with Nicaraguan Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Pablo Martinez Espinoza to review the proposed repairs to the Nejapa-Puerto Sandino highway segment, which is being financed by funds from Mexico’s international cooperation program. Mexico's Foreign Minister expressed confidence that the tender process for the project would be announced soon and that work would begin in the near future, as it will have an important social and regional impact. This project illustrates President Peña Nieto’s commitment to the integration and development of Mesoamerica. He also held meetings with political and business leaders Nicaraguans.

 SICA is an international organization created by the Tegucigalpa Protocol to the Charter of the Organization of Central American States (OCAS). It came into force on February 1, 1993. Its aim is to achieve the integration of Central America to make it into a region of peace, freedom, democracy and development. Its member states are Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Belize. The Dominican Republic participates as an associate member. Mexico has participated with regional observer status since 2004.