Pubdate: Sun, 4 Aug 2002 Source: San Antonio Express-News (TX) Copyright: 2002 San Antonio Express-News Contact: http://www.mysanantonio.com/expressnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/384 Author: Gary Martin MEXICO AT THE TOP OF BUSH VACATION AGENDA WASHINGTON - President Bush heads to Texas this week for a monthlong working vacation that includes plans to meet Mexican President Vicente Fox, an encounter that could place U.S.-Mexico relations back on the front burner. Warming relations between the neighboring countries were highlighted a week before the Sept. 11 terror attacks, when Fox traveled to the White House for a state dinner. Since then, the war on terrorism has consumed U.S. foreign policy, and Fox has been forced to deal with internal political pressures in Mexico. Bush and Fox "have a very close friendship and relationship," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer. "The president always looks forward to welcoming foreign leaders to his ranch," Fleischer said. Fox is making plans to visit Texas cities Aug. 26-28, including stops in Austin, where he's expected to meet Gov. Rick Perry, and in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Analysts say the meeting between the two presidents will restore the lost emphasis on U.S.-Mexico relations. "Mexico is going to be back on the radar screen," said Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, director of the Mexico Project at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. "It's an attempt to jump-start the bilateral relationship." U.S. and Mexican officials have continued to work on ticklish topics of immigration, narcotics smuggling, border control and the mounting Mexican debt of Rio Grande water owed to South Texas farmers. Mexico owes 1.5 million acre-feet of water to downstream users, according to a 1944 treaty. Texas lawmakers have lashed out at the Bush administration for an agreement reached with Mexico that allows the country to repay only a small portion of the debt. An acre-foot of water is equal to about 326,000 gallons. Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, said he hopes Fox addresses the water debt when he visits the state later this month. "Mexico continues to renege on the water treaty and we have countless numbers of farmers and ranchers who are facing losses," said Bonilla, whose congressional district sweeps from Laredo to El Paso and includes 800 miles of U.S.-Mexico border. "There is hardly an issue of greater importance to South Texas than the water issue," Bonilla said. Fox's visit to the Bush ranch also comes just a week before Texas Railroad Commissioner Tony Garza, the president's nominee to become the next U.S. ambassador to Mexico, is scheduled for a Senate confirmation hearing. First lady Laura Bush plans to visit Mexico in September at the invitation of Mexican first lady Martha SahagA n de Fox. A spotlight on U.S.-Mexico relations could be politically advantageous for Bush's efforts to court Hispanic voters to the GOP, and for Fox, who's under increasing pressure at home. The meeting with Bush "could give President Fox an incredible shot in the arm," Peschard-Sverdrup said. Meanwhile, Bush is to undergo his annual physical in Washington on Tuesday before traveling on to Crawford. Sensitive to news reports that the president's trip to Texas will stretch to Labor Day, administration officials sought to characterize the month in Crawford as a working vacation. Bush will "bring the White House with him to Crawford," Fleischer said, and travel to 12 cities during the 25 days in Texas. The president will take about two weeks for personal time. "The fact of the matter is, the president is entitled to a vacation just like everybody else," Fleischer said. The White House was stung by criticism from Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening, who in an interview with USA Today, questioned Bush's time off while the country is grappling with economic woes and the ongoing war on terrorism. "This is just a silly town with a lot of silly potshots," Fleischer responded. "And the president is looking forward to going home to Crawford." - --- MAP posted-by: Beth