Interior Secretary Says Mexico Not Violating
Water Treaty With U.S.

May 23, 2002
Stevenson Jacobs - The News Staff

In an apparent break with President Vicente Fox, Interior Secretary Santiago Creel on Wednesday denied Mexico had broken a 1944 water treaty with the United States, saying it still had several months to begin making payments.

Last week, Fox announced Mexico would soon begin repaying its 1.9 billion cubic meters water debt to its northern neighbor, which had accused Mexican farmers in the north of hoarding water flowing north through the Rio Grande.

Creel, who serves as Fox's liaison with Congress, said according to the treaty, Mexico has until September to begin making payments, but should only do so under circumstances favorable to national interests.

"In September, we'll have to take inventory to see about compensations and bills owed, but in this moment we're still in compliance with the (treaty)," Creel told reporters in Mexico City.

Creel suggested the dispute had been blown out of proportion by angry officials and farmers in U.S. border states seeking political gain in upcoming state and municipal elections.

Under the 1944 treaty, Mexico is obliged to deliver 432 million cubic meters annually to the United States. On Monday, the National Water Commission announced a plan that would increase that amount to 682 million cubic meters of water annually for the next five years.

But opposition lawmakers contend farmers can't afford to make the payments since a lingering drought has withered their crops and depleted reservoirs. U.S. officials say satellite photos prove otherwise.

Creel said the government must do all it can to mitigate the damages of the drought before agreeing to settle its debt with the United States.

"We're going to see about how we can link all of these interests to be able to comply with this treaty," he said.

Sen. Fernando Margain Berlanga, president of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday urged Presidents Fox and George W. Bush to work together to clear up the issue to avoid further damage to bilateral relations.

"This issue should be handled at the highest level because it threatens to eclipse the rest of the relationship which is something obviously neither side wants," said Margain, a member of Fox's National Action Party (PAN).

http://www.thenewsmexico.com/noticia.asp?id=26303