• by IPS Correspondents (mexico city)
• Friday, December 02, 1994
• Inter Press Service

MEXICO CITY, Dic 02 (IPS) - Newly inaugurated Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo called for major political reforms on Thursday, including radical changes to the judicial system, improved ethics in the public sector, and more stress on the fight against poverty.

During his speech to Congress, Zedillo recognised the problems afflicting the country, and made a commitment to continue negotiations with the Zapatisita insurgents who staged an armed uprising in the southern state of Chiapas Jan. 1 of this year.

Also in attendance were 14 Heads of State, including Fidel Castro of Cuba and Felipe Gonzalez of Spain, and special delegations from 34 countries. The United States was represented by Vice President Al Gore.

After praising out-going president Carlos Salinas, Zedillo mentioned the "deep and irredeemable sadness" caused by the the murder of the original Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) presidential candidate, Luis Donaldo Colosio, who was assassinated March 23 while campaining in Tijuana.

Regarding foreign policy, the new president said his government will promote "an active and open nationalism, repecting all nations," and promised to protect the rights of undocumented Mexican workers in the United States, while admitting that jobs must be created at home.

Zedillo called for a unified fight to change the fact that "many millions of Mexicans lack basic neccesities," and the need to begin to create jobs, raise wages, and achieve well being for all, which is the "fundamental proposition of economic planning."

In a tacit reference to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)- which joins Mexico, Canada and the United States - he spoke of new opportunities "to tie the expanding internal market to huge external markets, which Mexico has access to thanks to negotiations with other nations."

Zedillo cited the importance of modernising the country's road, port and telecommunications infrastructure, as well as urban and rural installations, while continuing to combat inflation, "in order to achieve sustainable economic growth."

He stressed the need to stimulate development, "with attention being paid to conserving the ecological balance."

Referring to the stalled peace talks in Chiapas, the President reaffirmed his commitment to initiate "new negotiations which will bring a just, dignified and definitive peace... there will be no violence on the part of the government, and I trust the same will be true from those in opposition."

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

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