(23 Oct 2008)
++AUDIO AS INCOMING++
1. Zoom out of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinoza as they come into room
2. Various of Rice and Espinoza signing bilateral agreement
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State
"It's underscored the importance of this relationship, the closeness of it, the depth of it. In particular we talked in depth about the historic and important Merida Initiative. We've already achieved an outstanding level of cooperation in our efforts to fight drug trafficking and organised crime, but this initiative takes our efforts to a new level (she is referring to bilateral initiative to combat effects of natural disasters)."
4. Rice and others leaving venue
STORYLINE
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Mexican counterpart Patricia Espinoza held bilateral talks on Thursday, on a range of issues affecting both countries.
Following their conversations, Rice and Espinoza signed a joint agreement for the United States and Mexico to work together to combat the effects of natural disasters in both countries.
Rice and Espinoza met in the Mexican resort town of Puerto Vallarta.
Rice flew into Mexico on Wednesday night for two day visit, saying she hoped to discuss various issues, including drug trafficking, with Mexico's Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa.
Rice said Mexico's newly won seat on the United Nations Security Council meant discussions would be on international, as well as bilateral, concerns.
The two are also expected to talk about the fight against organised crime, including violent drug cartel turf battles that have hit Mexico in recent years, and the effect of weapons smuggled into Mexico from the United States.
Rice mentioned specifically the "historic and important" Merida Initiative, a security cooperation pact between the US and Mexico and the countries of Central America, which aims to fight the drug trafficking, money laundering and transnational crime, and involves US assistance in the fields of intelligence, training, and equipment and intelligence.
Referring to the new bilateral initiative to combat the results of natural disasters, Rice said "We've already achieved an outstanding level of cooperation in our efforts to fight drug trafficking and organised crime, but this initiative takes our efforts to a new level."
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