In this issue of the Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior, a series of articles and documents are presented in which central issues of foreign policy and the international context are dealt with in depth. More than integrating a thematic unit, they constitute an important common thread that allows raising current concerns and reflections, whether we look at the history of Mexico, or if we direct it to the contemporary reality of the country, Latin America or the world in general. . The coincident perception in the essays included here about the problems that Mexico has had and must face and solve, with creative diplomatic options of regional and global scope, that contribute to the logo of international peace and security and that at the same time defend the interests of the nation, constitute the backbone of this edition. In the "Notes and reports" section, the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Trade between the Republics of Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador, signed in 1887, is presented. This document reflects the historical desires for cooperation, peace and regional unity; with the hope that the insistence on a common past and the drive to build a Central American homeland will generate not only a feeling of nostalgia but, above all, a propitious framework so that, through a broad and genuine spirit of cooperation, security is achieved and peace is established in this area.

In 1978, the Member States of the United Nations decided to proclaim the week that begins every October 24, as the week dedicated to the promotion of the objectives of disarmament. The aim is to develop public awareness of the dangers of the arms race, mobilize public opinion and create a climate conducive to progress in disarmament negotiations. Mexico is an important promoter of this effort. To commemorate Disarmament Week in 1984, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its academic body, the Matías Romero Institute for Diplomatic Studies, in collaboration with the Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs, carried out an extensive program to promote disarm. In this context, the holding of a Round Table on October 26, which brought together renowned specialists, stands out. The participation of each of them is included in this issue of the Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior in the “Essays” section.

Mexico's foreign policy constitutes one of the great national traditions, maintained even in the most difficult circumstances of its life as an independent country. Principles today so deeply incorporated into Mexican diplomacy, such as non-intervention, self-determination of peoples, and respect for human rights, formed an essential part of the political thought of the forerunners of this process. It was precisely these principles that would be strengthened throughout the painful effort to consolidate independence and the defense of its sovereignty against the multiple interventions that took place in the 19th century. In the face of these violent situations, Mexico has always granted the highest priority to the observance of its guiding principles, as well as the predominance of reason over force, political negotiation and compliance with the norms of International Law. With the three essays included in this issue of the Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior, we have tried to illustrate some aspects of this trajectory. Other transcendental aspects of Mexico's international agenda find treatment in the other sections that make up this issue. The appearance of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs before the Chamber of Senators stands out for its importance because it rescues and updates the best traditions of Mexican foreign policy.

The collaborators of this issue of the Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior, all of them recognized specialists in Mexican-American relations, have wanted, based on their own perceptions, to share their knowledge of the subject and raise several of their personal concerns. Thus, the comprehensive and historical vision of these relationships is offered; both the difficult moments and the times when the flow was smoother are also highlighted. In addition, attention is focused on two aspects of enormous relevance: the energy relationship and the commercial relationship. In addition to these essays, a brief note on the constitutive meeting of the Action Committee for the Economic and Social Development of Central America (CADESCA) of SELA is included. In the "Address and Documents" section, the inclusion of the Contadora Act for Peace and Cooperation in Central America stands out, in the revised version, which the representatives of the countries that make up the Contadora Group delivered to the governments of the five countries of the region on September 7, 1984.

In the international framework, Mexico was one of the first countries to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and later ratified the complementary documents. With its ratification, Mexico tried to strengthen an international obligation by striving, at the same time, to join the collective task in search of peace and justice, in a century that has seen the massive violation of such rights as a constant and not as an exception. In every political system, it should be advocated that the knowledge of citizens in this matter be expanded in a way that strengthens public support for a policy that is increasingly committed to respecting these freedoms. A deep concern for the subject is an essential element in the formation of responsible and participatory citizens. For these reasons, the Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior, by endorsing this concern, has decided to dedicate its third issue to human rights, collecting materials and concepts exposed during the act that the Matías Romero Institute for Diplomatic Studies organized on the occasion of the commemoration of the XXXV Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The authors of the articles included in this issue share their worries and concerns, providing their points of view on the problems of refugees, the different practices that violate human rights in the world, ethnic groups and the outrages on their cultures and habitat , discrimination against women, among others.

Contributing to world détente has always been an objective of Mexican foreign policy, which today is facing an especially difficult test in the Central American area. In this region where war has ended up becoming a daily danger, Mexico has concentrated its peacemaking efforts together with Colombia, Panama and Venezuela, countries with which it joined the Contadora Group in January 1983. One year after its creation, the Group has won wide international support. Complicated as the Contadora Group's progress has been, it cannot be said that the attempt has been in vain or that no effort has been spared in achieving its fundamental purpose: to contain the war in Central America and offer paths to peace. The Central American countries have accepted commitments as important as those contained in the "Document of Objectives" and in the "Rules for the execution of the commitments assumed in the Document of Objectives", both inspired by the proposal of the Contadora Group, embodied in the Cancun Declaration on Peace in Central America. The Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior of the Matías Romero Institute for Diplomatic Studies considers the disclosure of these documents to be very important, as a sign of its own commitment to make public opinion aware of the most outstanding lines of international policy in Mexico. In this sense, this number also includes some works that touch directly or indirectly, the subject of Mexican policy towards Central America, together with others that refer to issues that are also important on Mexico's international agenda.

First issue of the Revista Mexicana de Política Exterior.