| | |  News Around the Republic of Mexico | June 2009 
Mexico’s Greatest Asset is its People: President Calderón
 Presidencia de la República
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June 13, 2009
| | President Calderón leads proceedings of Indigenous Mexico, New Dawn Meeting. | |
Mexico City - President Felipe Calderón said that Federal Government is committed to the indigenous peoples of Mexico, adding that despite the economic crisis, his Administration will continue giving priority to these communities.
“I am certain that you have a friend and an ally in the President," said the President during the delivery of the proceedings of the Indigenous Mexico, New Dawn meeting.
At the Hondonada in Los Pinos, the President said that all government offices have been instructed to work shoulder to shoulder with the country's indigenous communities, since our generation has the task of transforming Mexico into a country of equal opportunities.
“We want to pay off this historical debt to indigenous peoples. A debt that has accumulated for decades not to say centuries," he said.
Accompanied by his wife Margarita Zavala, and Secretaries of Social Development, Ernesto Cordero Arroyo, and Agriculture, Alberto Cárdenas Jiménez, as well as the Head of the Commission for the Development of Indigenous Peoples, Luis H. Álvarez Álvarez, President Calderón said that the challenge is to achieve equal opportunities to enable all Mexicans, particularly the poorest, to progress.
“Equal opportunities mean that the son of a peasant or indigenous person will have the same possibility of progressing and triumphing as the son of a businessman or a professional. That is why equal opportunities means that boys and girls, since this also includes gender equality, can go to a quality school and have quality medical care and progress as a result of their own efforts," he added.
He admitted that Mexico's greatest asset is its people and its indigenous communities, which contain the soul of Mexico, its history, culture and what we want to be.
“That is why I think that the only possible future for Mexico is one that includes all its children, particularly those that have remained outside progress, particularly indigenous peoples and communities. This inclusion will fully respect their identity, language, tradition, culture and beliefs," he said.
Addressing the country’s indigenous representatives, the President mentioned the support his government has assigned for this sector, such as the budget, which has risen from 27 billion to over 38 billion pesos.
He also mentioned the Health Caravans, which reach over 800 of the poorest and most marginalized municipalities in Mexico.
“Our aim is that by 2011 at the latest, there will not be a single Mexican man or woman, whether indigenous or non-indigenous, peasant or city boy, regardless of his language, ethnic origin and religion, who does not have access to a doctor, medicine and treatment," he added.
He added that government is promoting productive projects that will enable indigenous people to progress not through gifts or charity but out of a sense of justice.
President Calderón declared that he will review the conclusions drawn from the Indigenous Mexico Meeting to achieve the integral development of indigenous peoples and communities. |
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