Mexico's U.S.
Ambassador Reflects Nieto's 'Contempt for Diplomacy' (El Universal, Mexico)
"He
suggested not reacting to the tough language of Donald Trump, 'because it would
grant him a level of recognition he lacks, since only one in 15 people in the
U.S. follow him.' He claimed that abuse of our migrants by U.S. authorities is
a myth, and downplayed the negative image of Mexico projected by recent
corruption scandals because, 'the Americans are accustomed to dealing with
African countries which are equally or more corrupt than ours.' …. With his
recent appointment, President Peña Nieto has displayed his contempt for the
most important bilateral relationship we have."
The foreign secretary's recent appointments to our embassy
in the United States speak of President Peña Nieto's contempt of diplomacy. The
appointments are being made six months after our representation in Washington
went vacant. During that time, Barack Obama has nominated Roberta Jacobson, who
has impeccable diplomatic credentials, as his next ambassador to Mexico. To
occupy the ambassador's office on Pennsylvania Avenue, Peña Nieto instead chose
Miguel
Basanez, an old family friend from Mexico City who, while a respectable
university professor, has no experience in the Foreign Service.
The
already-ratified ambassador just held a disastrous meeting with senators from
the National
Action Party [PAN – now the main opposition party]. He acknowledged his
lack experience but boasted of "citizen diplomacy." He suggested not
reacting to the tough language of Donald Trump, "because it would grant
him a level of recognition he lacks, since only one in 15 people in the U.S.
follow him." He claimed that abuse of our migrants by U.S. authorities is
a myth, and downplayed the negative image of Mexico projected by recent
corruption scandals because, "the Americans are accustomed to dealing with
African countries which are equally or more corrupt than ours."
And he went further. He said that corruption in Mexico (as
revised by recent surveys) focuses on "garbage collectors, so-called franeleros
and police in cruisers." Basáñez minimized the
prolonged vacancy in Washington because, he said, over recent months, no
transcendent bilateral issues appeared on the radar, and in addition, our
embassy and consulates continue to operate without an ambassador, so it makes
no difference. The academic finished by saying that his work should be
relatively straightforward since Peña Nieto and Barack Obama maintain "a
great personal relationship." So there's no need for a new relationships
for government officials and legislators on the two sides of the border.
Posted by Worldmeets.US
His work over recent years has focused on his
perch at the Fletcher School and far from the public administration.
Nevertheless, to the Mexico Senate, which is jointly responsible for foreign
policy, this seemed like a peccadillo and so it endorsed the budding diplomat.
We'll see him in action -and also we'll see the performance of our new foreign
secretary, Claudia
Ruiz Massieu, whose experience in the field is
near zero.
Her considerable work as head of the Tourism Ministry and
her accompaniment of the president on international tours is scarcely
sufficient to grasp and undertake her own active diplomacy in the context of
complex bilateral and multilateral relations. Mexico is wasting splendid career
diplomats who transcend administrations, presidents and political parties. Yes
- foreign service personnel represent the Mexican
government and not just the current executive. In short, with his recent
appointment, President Peña Nieto has displayed his contempt for the most
important bilateral relationship we have. The chancellery has been put into the
hands of improvisers and has shunted aside our country's most qualified career
diplomats.
*PAN Senator Javier
Lozano, a native of Puebla, is former secretary of labor.
The
already-ratified ambassador just held a disastrous meeting with senators from
the 
