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- OTTAWA (AFP) - Mexican President-elect
Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien on Tuesday ruled
out any suggestion that their two countries would join a new North American
monetary union.
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- Chretien also rejected past suggestions by Fox that Canada,
Mexico and the United States should work toward transforming the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) into a European Union-style relationship.
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- "We have our own currency in Canada and we intend
to keep the currency," Chretien said at a joint news conference with
Fox, who arrived here Tuesday for the start of a two-day visit in the country.
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- The 15-nation EU has evolved into a monetary, political
and customs union in which the participating member states have essentially
surrendered national sovereignty in a number of key areas.
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- Fox, although avoiding the broader aspects of an EU-style
arrangement, insisted "we are not proposing a common currency ...
nobody has promised anything related to a common currency."
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- Asked about Fox's broader idea for an EU-type development,
Chretien said: "I do not believe this can be done in the coming years."
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- The two men appeared to have a good rapport at the conference
with Chretien pointing out that, for most of their hour-long meeting, they
talked without any aides being present.
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- Fox said he briefed Chretien on recent democratic developments
in his country.
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- On human rights, Fox said he welcomed the opportunity
meet with Canadian activists in Toronto on Wednesday and his belief was
that "criticisms, comments and observations will always be welcome."
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- "We will have a dynamic policy of protecting human
rights," he insisted.
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- "We have a democratically elected government in
Mexico for the first time in our history. This will give us the moral authority
we need."
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- Asked whether Mexican political exiles, including those
who have settled in Canada, would be welcome back when his government takes
office, Fox replied: "There will not be any political exiles leaving
under my government. There will be no reason.
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- "We will have an open government."
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- Those who have left the country for political reasons,
he said, would be welcome to come back, but he added: "Those who have
legal problems will have to resolve their problems with the judiciary."
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- Following his visit in Toronto Wednesday, Fox will head
to the United States for meetings with US leaders.
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