Davidow

From Mexico City Bureau Chief Harris Whitbeck

MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City was spruced up in anticipation of the arrival of the new U.S. ambassador. And in his new post, Jeffrey Davidow will have to do a little cleaning up of his own, drawing on all his diplomatic skills to smooth over a troubled relationship.

For instance, a year-long delay in naming a new ambassador ruffled some feathers in Mexico. As political analyst Raymundo Rivapalacio puts it, the delay shows that "Mexico is not on the top of the [U.S.] agenda."

Part of the reason for the delay was the U.S. Senate's refusal to go along with President Clinton's first choice as top Mexican envoy, former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.

Topping the list of concerns in the countries' bilateral relationship are drug trafficking and efforts to control it.

Last spring, U.S. agents went into Mexico without the knowledge of Mexican authorities to conduct a sting operation. Irritated Mexican diplomats formally protested to Washington, and President Ernesto Zedillo even threatened legal action.

Soon after that incident, both countries' foreign ministers took pains to say the U.S.-Mexican relationship is crucial.

"There is no partnership like ours anywhere on Earth. Certainly, we have no relationship with more dramatic impact on the health and prosperity of the American people," said U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

Illegal border crossings a source of tension

Last year, trade between Mexico and the United States topped $170 billion. Along the 2,000-mile border between the countries, there were 250 million legal crossings.

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CNN's Harris Whitbeck reports from Mexico City
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However, it is the large number of illegal crossings that concern U.S. officials. Washington has asked Mexico to better control illegal migration, while Mexico counters by saying that tightened border controls on the U.S. side are killing people.

"There are more Mexicans dying trying to reach the [United States] now than before, and that has to do with the fact that some parts of the border are being closed and the immigrants have to walk through the desert and the mountains. And that's increasing the human cost," said Mexican political analyst Sergio Aguayo.

Mexico also wants more respect for the human rights of Mexican workers in the United States, while U.S. officials in recent months have shown increased concern for human rights inside Mexico.

For instance, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Illinois, said during a recent visit to the troubled Mexican state of Chiapas that he will bring up the situation there in Congress this fall.