MEXICO: MERIDA: US FIRST LADY HILLARY CLINTON VISIT

(5 May 1997) Natural Sound The U-S First Lady, Hillary Clinton, arrived in Merida, the capital of Yucatan state of Mexico on Sunday night, ahead of her husband’s historic State visit to Mexico. Mrs Clinton was given a lavish reception - Mexican style - with dancing and a guitar orchestra in a packed old-town plaza. Mrs Clinton will meet up with her husband, U-S President Bill Clinton on Monday, who will spend two days in Mexico discussing trade and immigration issues.. Hillary Clinton was mobbed by the adoring Merida crowd as she made her way to her seat for the festivities. The U-S First Lady had earlier been presented with baskets of flowers as she was officially greeted by on her arrival her Mexican counterpart, Patricia Velasco de Zedillo. The two first ladies were whisked away in a police motorcade for the welcoming ceremony in the 250-year-old town plaza. There they were entertained by a full Mexican musical extravaganza, which Mrs Clinton took to with relish. Before long she was clapping along, laughing with her Mexican hosts, and revelling in the special atmosphere. Mrs Clinton, who likes to make contact with local women on her trips abroad, is scheduled to meet with a group of Merida women on Monday. She also plans to visit a conservation project near the city, and go sightseeing at the Mayan ruins of Uxmal. President Clinton arrives on Monday. His visit is expected to focus on building trust with Mexico’s leaders and enlisting them as full partners in the drug war. But in doing so, Clinton will have to tiptoe around some diplomatic land mines - notably U-S immigration law and democratic reform in Mexico. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: