VZCZCXYZ0014
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHME #0768 0742139
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 142139Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0923
INFO RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0206
UNCLAS MEXICO 000768
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/MEX; USOAS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV CO EC MX
SUBJECT: MEXICO ON 3/17 OAS MINISTERIAL
REF: STATE 25971
1. Acting PolCouns stressed with Minister Jose Antonio
Zabulguitia,
the Foreign Ministry's Director General of the Office of
Regional
Organizations and Mechanisms in the Americas, the importance
the U.S.
attached to using the 3/17 OAS Consultations to focus on the
future
and better address transnational threats that contribute to
conflicts.
Zabulguitia, who will represent Mexico at the upcoming
consultations,
believed the Rio Group meeting had contributed significantly
to a
lowering of tensions. Nonetheless, he thought the OAS should
assume
the lead for producing a longer term resolution.
2. Separately, Zabulguitia noted that both Uruguay and the
Dominican
Republic were vying to preside over the 3/17 Consultations.
Mexico
respected both countries and did not favor one over the
other. However,
Zabulguitia wanted the U.S. to know that Mexico thought it
important
for this question to be resolved on the basis of consensus
rather than
a contentious vote.
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 /
GARZA