US Consul General in Tijuana endorses Mayors' Summit in Rosarito
This email is UNCLASSIFIED
From:Kashkett, Steven B
Sent:Thursday, April 15, 2010 2:23 PM
Cc:Radetsky, Amy S; Crook, Joseph L; Quiros, Myrtha F
Subject:Fifth Binational Mayor's Summit: Message from U.S. Consul General in Tijuana
Dear Mayors:
I am writing to endorse the Fifth Binational Mayor's Summit to which you have been invited by the Mayors of Rosarito Beach and Redondo Beach. This has become an important and useful annual event, bringing together both Mexican and American Mayors from throughout this bicultural region encompassing Southern California and Baja California. The meetings and forums that will take place May 6-7 in Rosarito will cover a wide range of issues of concern to municipalities on both sides of the border. This is a unique opportunity to enhance communication and cooperation with key Mexican counterparts here in Baja, to facilitate economic growth and tourism, and to discuss potential solutions to common problems.
My friend Hugo Torres, Mayor of Rosarito Beach, has expressed concern to me that the revised Travel Warning issued by the U.S. Department of State last month might prompt some of you to reconsider your participation in the Mayor's Summit. Because there are clearly misconceptions about this Travel Warning, Mayor Torres asked me to furnish a fuller clarification, and I am happy to do so below.
The U.S. Government has an obligation to inform our citizens about travel safety in foreign countries, but we issue only one document concerning travel conditions for any single foreign country. That document - whether a "warning", an "alert", or a simple notice - must broadly reflect conditions throughout that country. In a country as large as Mexico, this is obviously a difficult task considering that security and travel conditions can vary widely from one region to another.
The changes appearing in the recent Travel Warning were not directed specifically towards Baja California, but instead were largely the result of growing security concerns in other areas of Mexico bordering the United States. As we all know, the violence among organized crime cartels -- and between those cartels and law enforcement agencies - has become quite severe in Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon in recent months. Victims have included American citizens, such as the employees and family members of our Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez who were killed at the beginning of last month. The latest revisions to the Travel Warning were issued primarily in response to events in those areas. For this reason, it "urges U.S. citizens to delay unnecessary travel to parts of Durango, Coahuila and Chihuahua states," however, it makes no such recommendation regarding travel to Tijuana, Rosarito, or other parts of Baja California.
The language concerning crime and insecurity in Baja California in this recent Travel Warning is accurate, but essentially unchanged from the previous travel notices over the past two years. We acknowledge those problems, but we also recognize that authorities at the federal, state, and municipal levels have made progress in combating crime and have scored some important successes here. Rosarito Beach is a short drive from the border on a scenic highway that I myself travel on a regular basis.
I plan to attend the Mayor's Summit, and look forward to meeting you there!
Regards,
Steve Kashkett
U.S. Consul General
Tijuana, Mexico
011-(52)-664-622-7497 - office
443-326-4455 - U.S. cell
KashkettSB@state.gov
Filed under: Announcements, Events, Community Information, Safety, Travel, U.S., México, Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Baja, Border Crossing, Mayor, Public Safety, Rosarito, Consul, Consulate, Juárez, Forum, Tourist, Visitors