VZCZCXRO0139
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #6128/01 3461551
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121551Z DEC 07 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9864
INFO RUEAHLA/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
RHMFIUU/CDR USNORTHCOM
RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 006128
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN ECON ETRD KCRM MX OVIP PGOV PHUM PREL
SMIG, SNAR
SUBJECT: MEXICAN AND U.S. SENATORS DISCUSS MIGRATION,
MERIDA INITIATIVE AND THE MEXICAN ECONOMY
REF: MEXICO 6049
MEXICO 00006128 001.2 OF 002
1. Summary. Mexican Senate President Santiago Creel
extended a bipartisan U.S. delegation headed by Senator Harry
Reid an official welcome on the floor of the Mexican Senate
November 29. Afterwards, over a lunch hosted by Creel, the
leaders of six of Mexico's seven political parties
represented in the Senate gave short interventions addressing
the central components of Mexico's relationship with the U.S.
They conveyed Mexico's commitment to greater cooperation
with the United States based on mutual respect drawing
particular attention to the common challenge we face
combating drug trafficking and the importance they attach to
better treatment of Mexican migrants in the U.S. They hoped
this meeting would serve the first step towards engaging in
more substantive discussion of the issues that surround our
important relationship as close neighbors. At the press
conference concluding the encounter with the Mexican Senate,
Senator Reid signaled his support for the Merida Initiative.
End Summary.
U.S. Delegation Welcomed on Mexican Senate Floor
--------------------------------------------- ---
2. Mexican Senate President Santiago Creel extended a
bipartisan U.S. delegation headed by Senator Harry Reid an
official welcome on the floor of the Mexican Senate. He
described the visit by seven U.S. Senators as an opportunity
to improve relations and discuss greater cooperation in
meeting shared challenges and responsibilities. He hoped
this visit would be the first among many to come and closed
quoting Abraham Lincoln who once remarked to Mexico's
Ambassador, "Our two nations are friends and brothers; the
border between us separates us but also unites us." Sens.
Reid and Menendez commented afterwards that they had
appreciated the gesture extended by the Mexican Senate.
Senators Reid and Creel Discuss Concerns in Private Meeting
--------------------------------------------- --------------
3. Sens. Reid and Creel discussed bilateral concerns during a
private meeting at the Senate. Senator Reid said he
recognizes the resurgence of the legislative branch in Mexico
and emphasized the theme of partnership and shared
problems/solutions with respect to drug interdiction and
immigration. While Creel highlighted the importance of the
Mexican Congress in bilateral relations with the U.S., he
also agreed with Senator Reid by saying that the Merida
Initiative is a shared responsibility and not a grant, which
would help address a problem for both executive and
legislative branches in both countries.
Guess Who's Coming to Lunch?
----------------------------
4. Sens. Reid and Creel had a short private meeting followed
by lunch hosted by Creel and attended by some 10 Mexican
Senators and six Senators from the U.S. side. While the
exchanges were respectful and balanced, they were also
delivered in a formal fashion with a representative from six
of Mexico's seven political parties giving a speech
interspersed with remarks by each of the six U.S. Senators in
attendance. They addressed the following issues:
--Migration: Several Mexican senators expressed concern
about the problems Mexican migrants face in the U.S. and
hoped the U.S. Congress would adopt an immigration reform
bill in the near future that would better address those
concerns. PRI Senate leader Manlio Fabio Beltrones conceded
that Mexico needs to do a better job providing its own
citizens with greater economic opportunity but also pointed
out that Mexico's migrants are meeting labor demands that
continue to exist in the U.S. The U.S. delegation conveyed
appreciation for Mexican concerns while advising their
Mexican counterparts that U.S. measures to counter illegal
immigration had more to do with recovering a sense of control
of U.S. borders than any animosity toward Mexico.
--Merida Initiative: The Mexican senators recognized that
Mexico faced deep challenges in providing its citizens
greater security. They support giving the federal government
more tools to combat corruption, organized crime, narcotics
trafficking and terrorism and welcome closer cooperation with
the U.S. in meeting shared challenges. At the same time,
they called on the U.S. to do more to combat the flow of
MEXICO 00006128 002 OF 002
weapons into Mexico and expressed concern about the
trafficking of persons from Mexico into the U.S.
--Mexican economy: Senator Fernando Elizondo Barragan of the
governing PAN Party drew attention to Mexico's efforts to
make two monumental transitions simultaneously: from a
closed, statist economy to an open market economy and from a
one party, autocratic state to a participatory democracy.
Mexico's Senate is beginning to function for the first time
as a legitimate branch of government and was looking at
reform legislation on a wide number of fronts -- pensions,
justice, education, etc. that would contribute to Mexico's
political and economic development. Senator Gabino Cue
Monteagudo of the leftist Convergence Party complained that
NAFTA had done little to improve Mexico's economy but rather
had contributed to greater immigration to the U.S. He called
for a review of NAFTA.
5. Senator Reid concluded the encounter by stressing the
importance he attached to the U.S. developing a deeper
relationship with its neighbors in Latin America - Mexico in
particular. He believed both our countries could do a better
job facing our coming challenges by working more closely
together. He conveyed respect for President Calderon
describing him as a "strong" leader whom he was confident
would prove a capable advocate of Mexican interests in
negotiations with the U.S.
Reid to Press: More Upbeat on Merida Initiative After Trip
--------------------------------------------- -------------
6. In speaking at a joint press conference, Senator Reid
referenced his lengthy meeting with President Calderon
(reftel) remarking he would make an excellent partner with
the U.S. He recognized the urgency of Mexico's
narco-trafficking problem and said the U.S. was obligated to
help Mexico in a meaningful way. Going further, he remarked
that the U.S. shared a major share of the responsibility for
Mexico's trafficking problem and needed to do a better job in
terms of addressing our own demand problem. He commented
that the chances of Congress approving of the Merida
Initiative had improved significantly as a result of his
visit to Mexico. That said, the U.S. Congress would look at
the package carefully to ensure that the money goes to the
right places. Human rights are important to the U.S. and the
Congress will want to make sure the initiative promotes them
in Mexico. He expected the U.S. Congress would move on the
proposal before July 2008.
This message was cleared by CODEL Reid.
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American
Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap /
BASSETT