President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced a pause in relations between the Government of México and the embassies of the United States and Canada, in response to criticism of the reform of the Judicial Branch of the Federation that is being discussed in the Mexican Congress.
Ken Salazar, the U.S. ambassador to México, warned on August 22 that the reform of the PJF, which included “the direct election of judges,” would represent “a risk to the functioning of democracy and the integration of economies.”
Graeme C. Clark, Canadian Ambassador to México, revealed that Canadian investors had expressed their concerns to him regarding the reform of the Federal Judicial Branch.
During his morning press conference, López Obrador reminded the United States Ambassador of the limits established by the Mexican Constitution, as if it were a matter of “reading him the riot act.” He also considered that the behavior of the Canadian Embassy regarding this issue had been “embarrassing.”
“How are we going to allow the Ambassador [Salazar]”With all due respect, this is not a matter of dispute, of enmity, but how can we allow him to think that what we are doing is wrong? We are not going to tell him to leave the country, no, but we do have to read him the Constitution, which is like reading him the riot act,” he emphasized.
“How is your relationship with him?” a reporter asked her. “It is good, but it is on hold,” she replied. “Since when?” the journalist insisted. “Since he declared that [contra la reforma judicial]. Pause means we are going to take our time,” he replied.
“I hope so, and the State Department, because it is not him either, what a coincidence that at the same time that they are speaking out in México, through the Embassy, the Canadians are doing it, which is also embarrassing,” said López Obrador.
“Is this a pause with the Ambassador or in the bilateral relationship with the United States?” a reporter asked him. “No, the relationship continues, but I hope there is a confirmation from them that they will be respectful of México’s independence, of the country’s sovereignty. As long as that doesn’t happen and they continue with that policy, well, there is a pause with the Embassy,” he said.
“Also with the Canadian Embassy?” asked a journalist. “Yes, of course, they also have to learn to respect México’s sovereignty, it’s not just anything, because we are not going to give them advice there to tell them what is right and what is wrong then,” he answered.
“We want them to be respectful, for there to be a reciprocal relationship in respect of sovereignty,” said López Obrador, who also warned that, as long as he was in power, México would maintain that position against foreign interference.
She also expressed confidence that the next government, headed by Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, would maintain this position. She also clarified that she would not call upon the President of the United States, Joe Biden, because she pointed out that “it is just a matter of understanding: it was reckless to demonstrate as they did.”
On August 23, López Obrador described the U.S. Ambassador’s statements as “acts of disrespect for our sovereignty, as an unfortunate and reckless statement.”
Source: from Noroeste Nacional on 2024-08-27 09:07:00
