President Hipólito Mejía met yesterday in San José, Costa Rica with President Miguel Angel Rodríguez of Costa Rica and President-elect Vicente Fox of Mexico. High on the agenda was securing the support of Fox for preferential treatment in petroleum purchases from Mexico. During the meeting, Fox promised to study with a constructive mindset the request. He also accepted an invitation to visit the Dominican Republic in the first semester of 2001. President Mejía promised to travel to Mexico in December to be present at his inaugural. During a press conference reported by Hoy newspaper, the three statesmen committed to seek new regional integration mechanisms, and proposed a free trade triangle that would expand trade, help create jobs and contribute to make more dynamic the economies of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. In El Caribe, Vicente Fox is quoted saying: "For us, the DR is an important starting point for increasing ties with the Caribbean." President Rodríguez of Costa Rica emphasized the importance of the DR passing the free trade agreement with Central America. The agreement an initiative of former President Leonel Fernández that was signed in 1998, has not received congressional approval, primarily because tariffs need to be revised before it is passed. The treaty has been passed by the five Central American nations, with only the DR congressional approval missing for it to go into effect. "There is no doubt that the free trade agreements are valuable mechanisms for orderly and fair opening of markets as they provide access to markets with preferential tariff treatment, clear rules, and mechanisms for solution of controversies that protect investments and stimulate competitiveness among companies," said Costa Rican President, Miguel Angel Rodríguez. Mejía committed to lobby with PRD congressmen for the approval. He said that his party controls two-thirds of the Congress. "I am totally sure that Congress will pass the free trade agreement," he said. Mejía traveled to Costa Rica with government and private business officers. The official mission was made up by: Minister of Foreign Relations Hugo Tolentino Dipp Minister sans Portfolio Ramón Emilio Jiménez The president of the board of the CDE, Rafael Perelló Abreu Press director Luis González Fabra Military aides corps head, Major General Carlos Diaz Morfa Also businessmen: Celso Marranzini, José del Carmen Ariza, Diego de Moya Canaan, Manuel García Arévalo, Miguel Guerra, Eduardo Lama and Roberto Martínez Villanueva. Mejía traveled today (13 September) to Managua, Nicaragua where he accepted an invitation of President Arnaldo Alemán. He is scheduled to return tonight.
