WASHINGTON.- Mexican President Felipe Calderon, encouraged the war on organized crime yesterday in Washington while showing his support for exploring "market alternatives" to battle the lucrative illegal-drug industry.

During a presentation to the External Affairs Council before professors, businessmen and US officers, Calderon offered a strong defense of his term's accomplishments in the economic and security areas that, to him, have transformed Mexico in a "stronger nation, and a better neighbor" of the US.

The president thanked the administration of Barack Obama for their support against drug dealing through "shared responsibility," but reiterated his claim that the US must decrease the demand of drugs, because "while this market continues to grow, money will keep flowing to the criminals' pockets."

"The best way to do it would be to reduce the demand for illegal drugs in the US but, frankly, if that is not possible, all the alternative solutions to reduce the massive profit of organized criminal groups must be considered, that includes market alternatives that prevent the traffic of drugs to cause so much violence and death," pointed Calderon.

In that sense, he asked for the bilateral cooperation to continue in the next office terms of both the US and of Mexico, warning that "no country can be successful without the support of its strategic allies."

The Mexican leader considered that his successor, Enrique Peña Nieto, should not back down and "give license" to organized crime groups since the government's top priority is to protect security and enforcing the law.

Calderon, who will surrender the government's reins next December first, also reiterated his request for the US to extend the federal law expired in 2004that controls the retailing of assault rifles.

When presenting a before and after his term, Calderon emphasized that Mexico has assisted the "transformation" of its economy through the principles of "fiscal discipline, economic freedom and an increase in competitiveness."

Now Mexico constitutes almost the 13 percent of US imports of manufactured goods when in 2005 was under the 10 percent, and is now "in the way of becoming a middle class nation" with more access to their own homes, automobiles, durable goods and health services as well as education and entertainment.

During his six-year term, he added, Mexico went from the ninth to the fourth global place as automobile exporter, and is now "the second importer of US products in the world," more than Latin America, China and Japan together.

"This deep transformation of the Mexican economy has a critical significance for the success of the US economy, too" there should be a boost so there is "more integration, not less" in the United States, he stated.

In addition, Calderon highlighted the decline of illegal migration from Mexico and applauded president Obama's decision of stopping for two years through "deferred action" the deportation of over half a million undocumented students who arrived to the US when they were minors.

This is how Calderon began a three-day working visit through Washington and New York in which is considered to be his farewell tour as the head of state.

This afternoon, president Calderon will attend the world premiere of the film "Flight of the Butterflies" at the Natural History Museum of the Smithsonian.

On Tuesday he will take part in the 67th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York and in a debate about "governability of the global community" in the framework of the events scheduled by the Clinton Global Initiative.

Calderon, who will be returning to Mexico next Wednesday, will meet with representatives of the banking and financial sector of the US, will be at the NASDAQ opening and will grant the Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca, the highest honor Mexico awards foreigners, to three distinguished United States leaders.

Editorial@sandiegored.com

Translation: Karen.balderas@sandiegored.com