Call for New Regional Policy/Presidential Plane Could Be Sold

Ayotzinapa case. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stressed that the investigations into the disappearance of 43 students in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero continue, nevertheless, contrary to the accusations, they are not stalled. “We are making good progress. The process is slow because there was a lot of corruption, but progress is being made and we will soon have results. We will fulfill our commitment to clarify the facts and hold the perpetrators accountable.”

In 2014, during former president Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration, 43 students disappeared in Iguala, Guerrero and the government reported they were murdered by the United Warriors Cartel in Cocula. According to the past administration, it was the Iguala police who handed over the students to the criminal group. Nevertheless, since the reopening of the case with new findings incriminating Enrique Peña Nieto’s government are popping up.

This week the relatives of the 43 students and social organizations have begun to protest in Guerrero and Mexico City to denounce the cessation of investigations and demand that the soldiers involved be investigated. Relatives said that despite the fact that more investigations have been carried out under the López Obrador’s government, they have not clarified the facts and found the whereabouts of the students.

AMLO calls for a change in regional policy. López Obrador said that although he decided not to attend the Summit of the Americas, his government advocates the integration and cooperation of the entire continent. Likewise, López Obrador stressed that Mexico is against commercial blockades and discrimination, for which he called for a change in regional policy. “We do not agree to exclude a county. We want the unity of all the countries of the American continent for the benefit of our people.

Last week, López Obrador refused to attend the Summit of the Americas after the US failed to invite Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. For weeks, US representatives such as the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, and former senator Christopher Dodd, appointed as special advisor to the IX Summit of the Americas, tried to convinced López Obrador to attend the summit. Dodd previously said that since Mexico is one of the key countries in the region, his leadership was needed at the summit. Experts warned that Mexico's absence could create issues for the US, as it appears to have a weak regional power.

Argentina could buy a presidential plane. López Obrador emphasized that the Argentine government could buy Mexico’s presidential plane and even pay for it in installments. “It has been difficult selling the plane, but since the useful life of the Argentine presidential plane has already been exhausted, there is a purchasing opportunity. We told the Argentine government that the plane is there if they want it. The plane right now is worth US$110 million, but they only have a budget of US$30 million. We continue negotiating and we do not rule out coming up with an installment plan.”

Previously, it was announced that the presidential plane would be rented for private use and would remain at the AIFA airport for visitors to see. In addition, the president assured that the government staff would not be able to use the airplane. Nevertheless, he said the possibility of selling it once a buyer is found was not rule out. In the past, López Obrador said the money obtained from the sale of the plane would go to the purchase of medical devices to improve public hospitals.