AP, Washington :US President Barack Obama embarked on a new year of foreign policy by welcoming Mexico’s embattled President to the White House on Tuesday, seeking help to jump start a new US approach to immigration, Cuba and trade.Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto praised Obama’s executive action to shield from deportation some 4 million immigrants – most of them from his country – and his move to re-establish diplomatic ties with Cuba. Both Presidents are hoping US Congress will approve a new trade treaty that would involve countries stretching from Chile to Japan.And they discussed a scandal that has sparked massive protests in the Mexican streets and a smaller one in the snow outside the White House as they met – the September 26 abduction and presumed killing of 43 college students, allegedly at the hands of local officials and police in league with a drug cartel.Pena Nieto has drawn criticism for saying it was time to “move beyond” the case just weeks after their abduction and taking a month to meet with their families.”We are very upset,” said Ivan Almonte, a 36-year-old Mexican who has been living in the United States for 16 years and was among the demonstrators outside the White House. “We want Pena Nieto to quit and to tell us where are the 43 students. Why so much silence?”Obama told reporters at the end of their meeting that Americans have been following the tragedy that has raised concerns about security in Mexico. Obama said Pena Nieto described the reform program he’s initiating around the issues.”Our commitment is to be a friend and supporter of Mexico in its efforts to eliminate the scourge of violence and the drug cartels that are responsible for so much tragedy inside Mexico,” Obama said. But he added, “Ultimately it’ll be up to Mexico and its law enforcement to carry out the key decisions that need to be made.”
