Aguilar Zinser sacked
The foreign minister, Luis Ernesto Derbez, sacked Mexico's ambassador to the UN, Adolfo Aguilar Zinser, in mid-November. Aguilar Zinser's offence was to say that Mexico would remain the US's backyard until it stopped allowing the US to treat it as it liked. Aguilar Zinser loses his job from 1 January, when Mexico ceases to be a member of the UN Security Council.
The new Mexican ambassador to the UN is Enrique Berruga. Unlike Aguilar Zinser, Berruga is a career diplomat. He was number two at the foreign ministry and had been angling for an embassy. Berruga has been responsible for Mexican policy on reforming the UN. Besides publishing tomes on foreign policy issues, Berruga has also published three novels. He has a Master's in international relations from Johns Hopkins University.
Aguilar Zinser compounded his mistake by refusing to apologise or recant. He came under considerable pressure to do so. Even the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, took note and offence at what he had said. In his original statement, Aguilar Zinser said that Mexico would remain the US's backyard for as long as it maintained its submissive attitude towards it northern neighbour. Lots of politicians complained about Aguilar Zinser's statement and said that he had been undiplomatic.
Aguilar Zinser's reputation at the UN is high. He had played an important role on the UN Security Council, opposing the US-led intervention in Iraq but stopping short of becoming anti-US. The US, nevertheless, was unhappy with Mexican policy. Before taking the UN job, Aguilar Zinser had been President Fox's chief security adviser. He was one of Fox's key supporters in 2000. He had been a leading light in the PRD before defecting to join Fox.
The new Mexican ambassador to the UN is Enrique Berruga. Unlike Aguilar Zinser, Berruga is a career diplomat. He was number two at the foreign ministry and had been angling for an embassy. Berruga has been responsible for Mexican policy on reforming the UN. Besides publishing tomes on foreign policy issues, Berruga has also published three novels. He has a Master's in international relations from Johns Hopkins University.
Aguilar Zinser compounded his mistake by refusing to apologise or recant. He came under considerable pressure to do so. Even the US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, took note and offence at what he had said. In his original statement, Aguilar Zinser said that Mexico would remain the US's backyard for as long as it maintained its submissive attitude towards it northern neighbour. Lots of politicians complained about Aguilar Zinser's statement and said that he had been undiplomatic.
Aguilar Zinser's reputation at the UN is high. He had played an important role on the UN Security Council, opposing the US-led intervention in Iraq but stopping short of becoming anti-US. The US, nevertheless, was unhappy with Mexican policy. Before taking the UN job, Aguilar Zinser had been President Fox's chief security adviser. He was one of Fox's key supporters in 2000. He had been a leading light in the PRD before defecting to join Fox.