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butterbean · Joined: 21 Jun 2006 Posts: 2271

Mexico and the United States will evaluate the security of energy facilities on both sides of their common border, US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Friday in Mexico City.

Chertoff told members of Mexico's American Chamber of Commerce that there will be visits to evaluate a certain number of facilities to guarantee that they are safe from natural disasters and other threats.

The US official, however, did not say whether the move has anything to do with threats made earlier this week by an alleged al- Qaeda linked group to attack oil facilities in countries that supply the United States, like Mexico, Canada and Venezuela.

On Thursday, US Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Karen Hughes said in Guadalajara, Mexico, that those threats have to be "taken seriously."

Authorities of the Mexican state of Veracruz in turn reinforced security at five petrochemical plants and the Minatitlan oil refinery Thursday.

Civil Protection Undersecretary Ranulfo Marquez said members of the army, the navy and public security ministry were involved in the enhanced security at the Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) facilities and the Laguna Verde nuclear power plant in the state.

Veracruz state contains the highest concentration of Pemex on-shore petroleum installations.

Chertoff said guaranteeing the security and economic welfare are cornerstones of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America (SPP), which Mexico, Canada and the United States launched in March 2005.

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http://www.playfuls.com/news_10_14581-Mexico-US-To-Evaluate-Security-Of-Energy-Facilities.html