Mexican, Central American leaders seek economic integration, d

MERIDA, Mexico -- Mexican and Central American leaders ended a two-day summit by announcing an ambitious plan to integrate the region, including a $3 billion highway project.

The goal of the so-called Plan Puebla Panama's is to promote the region's development by integrating its roads, electricity grids and tariff systems, and by building a gas pipeline from Mexico to Panama.

In the meeting that ended Friday in Merida, 620 miles southeast of Mexico City, the region's leaders also condemned terrorism and pledged to improve the defense of human rights.

Central American countries plan to open a joint office in Mexico's southern Veracruz state to protect migrant rights, delegates said.

Mexican President Vicente Fox, who originally proposed the plan when he took office two years ago, said regional integration "is an imperative need."

The plan's proposals include a highway project that is estimated to cost more than $3 billion.

Although designed mostly for economic development, the plan is being promoted also as a tool to strengthen democratic institutions in Central America.

Plan coordinator Florencio Salazar said Central America has overcome armed conflicts and all its nations now choose their leaders democratically. "But political democracy alone does not guarantee the strength and permanence of democratic institutions unless it is accompanied by economic development."

Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos said that "only together and integrated in our political plans and programs ... can we be successful in today's world of globalization."

Some of the objections to the plan originally came from environmental and indigenous groups in southern Mexico.

Ambassador Gustavo Iruegas of the Mexican Foreign Ministry said presidents agreed Friday that the interests of indigenous and other minority groups will be considered.

Although some observers and possible investors said the plan was not concrete enough yet, others expressed interest.

"The state of Missouri has some very major, sophisticated construction infrastructure firms that are taking a real close look at a lot of the infrastructure projects that they are talking about doing," said David W. Eaton, director of Missouri's trade office in Mexico City.