Sonora
EXCHANGE PROGRAM
SONORA-ARIZONA
Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI)- Republican
Party
BACKGROUND
The Sonora-Arizona region geographically characterizes itself for
having a close relationship between its communities and where, based
on the mutual border flow of goods and tourism, trade exchange has
been ongoing for many decades.
People from both Arizona and Sonora, have reached the conclusion
that the border instead of dividing them unites them, when
communities understand and value the mutually beneficial relationship.
As an economic region, maintaining a strong and solid bilateral
relationship is a priority for the people and the government of both
states.
Despite the unevenness of their economies, there is a mutual respect
amongst these neighbor states, in both the private and public sector.
Sonora and Arizona have a long history of fraternity and economic
alliance. This region has managed to bolster their individual strengths
with the help of each other. The Mexican side benefits from its close
proximity with Arizona by using it as a port of entry to the most
important market in the world for its Mexican-made products. From the
United States side, people from Arizona see Sonora as the entrance to
a stable and emergent economy; at the same time, they see the
natural entrance to the sea, either for touristic or commercial purposes.
From both sides of the border, the exchange of information about
economy, security and health measures affirms that our relationship is
a fulfilled promise.
These are more than enough reasons as to why Sonora and Arizona
have maintained an exemplary relationship between their countries;
same relationship that has given life to the Arizona-Mexico and the
Sonora-Arizona commissions for five decades.
EXCHANGE PROGRAM
Political parties have the responsibility to encourage and promote civic
values which in turn are the foundation of modern democracies. Within
this responsibility is the study and empirical knowledge of the political
agenda of other countries. This allows bonds of understanding to
widen.
The Republican Party in Arizona and the Institutional Revolutionary
Party (PRI, from its Spanish initials) in Sonora have made it their
priority to strengthen the civic and political foundations amongst its
members, especially amongst the younger ones.
Young people are the most important asset in our society hence the
relevance that a political culture based on tolerance, the understanding
of foreign reasons and the full respect for self-determination of the
nations is encouraged in both parties.
As a result of what was previously stated, state leaderships of the
Republican Party and theInstitutional Revolutionary Party, have
agreed to initiate a cultural and political exchange that will be
expanded and refined with time and based on the experiences of the
youth.
We will contribute to a stronger unity between our states if we manage
to get young people from both states that are interested in public
matters, to exchange experiences in the way politics are practiced in
both of these parties in their respective countries.
We set off by adhering to the principle of good faith through which
prejudices that only produce confusion are divested.
A better understanding of the political system and the decision-making
processes of both countries can ensure that young people participating
in this program stray away from the stigmas that lead to misperception
and incorrect interpretations of the truth of these two great nations.
It is of due importance that the new generations achieve a better
understanding of the Sonora-Arizona relationship, so that we can
abandon the idea or interpretation of just two combined economies,
and initiate a process of real mutual political comprehension that would
help both states to serve as bridges between their countries and its
neighboring state.
This shared purpose of a higher standard in our relationship will be of
great help in the cultural exchange of young people who will witness
the political activity of its neighboring country; thus this agreement is
made in accordance with the following clauses:
CLAUSES
FIRST.
Both parties agree to help with an exchange program for youth and/or
college aged participants that will visit their states for periods of no less
than 15 days.
The exchange program will include: visits to legislators and the
observation of Sonoran congress and Arizonan legislative sessions.
SECOND.
Each party could propose an agenda to its counterpart for the youth to
participate as observers of internal and constitutional political
processes. This way they could also network with other young people
from the visited country with the purpose of creating bonds of
understanding between the countries they represent for years to come.
THIRD.
Each party commits itself to conduct a detailed, instructional meeting
with the electoral authority of their state so that the respective electoral
systems are explained to the young visitors.
FOURTH.
Upon their arrival, the participants will share their experience and the
acquired knowledge with their respective parties and their personal and
political acquaintances. This will spread a better understanding of what
is going on in the neighboring country.
PRIREPUBLICANPARTY
GilbertoGutiérrezSánchezRobertGraham.
ChairmanStateChairman
WITNESS
LilaAbedRuiz
SecretaryofForeignAffairsCENPRI
WITNESS
SergioArellano
StateDirectorRepublicanNationalCommitte