January 31, 2008 - MAYOR TOM LEPPERT INVITES MEXICO'S LEADERS TO DALLAS / ALFREDO CORCHADO / THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert urged Mexican officials on Tuesday to view Dallas as a gateway and destination, inviting President Felipe Calderón, the foreign affairs minister and the Institute for Mexicans Abroad to hold their bi-annual meeting in Dallas this April. The institute's 126- member board, which meets twice a year and has met outside of Mexico only once, in Atlanta, looks out for the interests of Mexican nationals abroad. The Mexican president usually attends the meetings with Mexico's expatriates, and Mr. Leppert said he would make the case to Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa for holding it in Dallas. "I will certainly extend the invitation to President Calderón because I think it's very important for the president to visit Dallas," Mr. Leppert said. "The meeting will help reaffirm in people's mind that Dallas is an international city and we're excited to be able to host such an important event."