According to El Proceso, 21 October:
The US Ambassador in Mexico, Carlos Pascal, warned today that Narcotráfico is a threat to the whole hemisphere since it control points of sale, demand and transport in the American Union (sic), Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America.
After presenting his credentials to President Felipe Calderón at the National Palace, the US diplomat said that in facing this situation, one must analyze the problem of narcotráfico on a hemispheric scale, get involved in the issues, invest resources and abilities, to deal with all these aspects of it.
He confirmed that in the US they have begun to tackle the subjects related to the demand for drugs, and at the same time they have begun to improve abilities to reduce the flow of arms and money to other countries including Mexico.
On the subject of corruption, he said, US authorities have undertaken the matter in a responsible and serious fashion and they have, to this end, have put in place systems to monitor customs officials and the police.
However, he admitted that it must be recognized that the narcotraficantes are always going to be "adjusting" their strategies, because o which it is necessary to review how to integrate the systems of both countries.
Furthermore, he spoke on behalf of a joint Mexican-US project on the border of Mexico and Guatemala to combat arms traffic.
In declaring that the Plan Mérida was a Mexican proposal, Ambassador Pascual said the initiative had been important for regional cooperation on matters of secrity.
He saidthat possible at the end of the year or in January, US planes and helicopters would arrive In Mexico as part of the equipment agreed to en Plan Mérida.
On the issue of migratión, he noted that it was a matter which the Obama administration intended to address, although at present the priority was reform of health care.