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Interview: Mexico's new ambassador to U.S. faces challenges in migration, security

Xinhua, September 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

The new Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Miguel Basanez Ebergenyi, is taking up his position at a complicated time as issues like migration and security have risen to the fore ahead of the 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign, according to Mexican academics.

The new ambassador, who does not have a past in diplomacy but is hailed for his broad academic and political career, will have to navigate this crucial relationship through different obstacles, including providing support for the Mexican community north of the border.

"He will face a complicated task in the next few months to consolidate the bilateral relationship," Pia Taracena Gout, a professor of international studies at Ibero-American University, told Xinhua. "He may not be able to influence American policy on migration, but I believe he will defend Mexican immigrants in collaboration with our consulates and civil organizations," she explained.

Alejandro Carlos Espinoza, a professor of law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), also believed that Basanez Ebergenyi will be defined by his stance on migration.

"I believe he will be facing an important challenge in the meeting of certain public policies and the overall theme of migration...However, there are opportunities to join efforts with the U.S. on migration. Much of it will depend of course on who the next U.S. president will be," Espinoza told Xinhua.

With a very broad field of U.S. presidential candidates, 16 for the Republicans and five for the Democrats, none have been as controversial as Donald Trump. who has been excoriated for racially charged comments about Mexico and for his plan to build a large wall along the border.

"While this situation has not weakened the bilateral relationship, it certainly shows how the relationship may change, based on who the next U.S. president is," added Espinoza.

Before travelling to Washington, the ambassador gave an interview to Mexican daily, El Universal, in which he stated that the bilateral relationship with the U.S. was politically and economically "rich and varied", while admitting that the ties could be changeable.

"The ties are very good at times and not so good at others. They are much like economic cycles. However, I am confident that the U.S. and the world are entering an upward phase, which will help our mutual perception to improve. I will work for that," said Ebergenyi. Enditem