Mexico City, Mexico — An agreement made between the Government of the United States and the Mexican state of Zacatecas is unconstitutional says AMLO. Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that according to the Constitution, a state cannot enter into agreements with foreign governments.
López Obrador was referring to the October 6 security support agreement made between Ken Salazar of the U.S. Government and the state of Zacatecas.
“As I promised a month ago on my first visit to Zacatecas, I returned to the state with a great team from the Government of the United States to, in a manner that respects the sovereignty of Mexico, work shoulder to shoulder with the state, federal and municipal governments, as well as with the private sector, civil society and churches in the safety of Zacatecans.
“Because surely there is prosperity, investments arrive and trust in institutions grows. We are optimistic that we will achieve it, but it is necessary to maintain coordinated, continuous and permanent work, emphasizing that the people of Zacatecas count on the United States in this challenge facing our countries. Our governments have the Bicentennial Security Framework and the High-Level Security Dialogue,” Salazar wrote on the U.S. Embassy website.
López Obrador called the agreement unconstitutional saying that according to Article 117 of the Constitution, states do not have the power to enter into agreements with foreign governments.
“It is expressly prohibited for state governments to sign agreements with foreign governments. It is very clear, but we have confidence in Ken Salazar, who is visiting the states and has a good relationship with the US government,” he explained.
However, López Obrador also said that his government will not complain since it is an issue that should not grow. “There’s no way we’re going to make a fuss. This is a different matter and we are not going to fight. We have to act judiciously and not fight,” he said.
López Obrador stressed that there is no tension with the U.S. adding that a meeting will be held between his Security Cabinet and his U.S. counterparts next week in Washington.
On October 6, the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar met with the governor of Zacatecas, David Monreal Ávila to sign a cooperation agreement to combat organized crime in the state after in August, the U.S. included the state on its list of places for Americans to avoid visiting.
The agreement was announced at a press conference after the governor of Zacatecas, Monreal Ávila and the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, held a meeting to start work against human, drug, and arms trafficking.
