Trump comments hurt U.S.-Mexico relations: EPN

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto says he thinks comments by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump hurt U.S.-Mexico relations.

"It appears to me that (Trump's comments) hurt the relationship we have sought with the United States," president Peña Nieto said in an interview with EL UNIVERSAL. He added that Mexico will try to work with whoever is elected president of the United States.

About the 13 structural reforms undertaken during his administration, president Peña Nieto said that his government has tried to break barriers that hinder Mexico's development. He added that some benefits of the reforms are already noticeable and that they are part of a process that will take time, and that in recent times there is no other country that has passed as many reforms as Mexico.

About the drop in oil prices and its effect on Mexico's economy president Peña Nieto said that the government needs to act responsibly in the way it handles public finances and cut expenses. He explained that Mexico's economy depends less on oil than in the 80's, as it has diversified and opened up and domestic consumption has strengthened.

The President also said that the Mexican economy is growing unlike many other countries, that inflation has reached record low levels, that the country has increased its agricultural exports and that more jobs have been created in the last three years than in the five previous administrations.

About the two contrasting versions of the investigations into the disappearance of the 43 students of the teachers training college of Ayotzinapa, president Peña Nieto said that the federal government can not be blamed for this unfortunate incident and that everyone regrets what happened in Iguala, where the students were last seen on September 26, 2014.

He added that Mexico has tried to have a transparent investigation and this is the reason for which it accepted the help of international agencies such as the group of independent experts of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, but that Mexico's Attorney General's Office is legally and institutionally responsible for the case.

In regards to security the President said that he supports the single command (mando único) model but that the legislators will ultimately discuss which is the best model for each place.

In terms of human rights, president Peña Nieto said that even though Mexico has shortcomings, the government has a serious commitment to human rights and that there has been progress and new protocols have been created.

The President said that it will be up to society to decide whether he helped Mexico progress.