VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1436/01 2051959
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 241959Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8736
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6395
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6258
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL MEXICO 1418
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 6607
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001436 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV MX AR
SUBJECT: MEXICAN AMBASSADOR ON RELATIONS WITH ARGENTINA AND 
THE MEX-ARG "STRATEGIC ASSOCIATION" 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: In a meeting July 13 with Ambassador, 
Mexican Ambassador to Argentina de la Garza Sandoval 
discussed President Kirchner's visit at the end of July to 
Mexico to sign an "Agreement of Strategic Association," which 
will group together under one instrument a number of existing 
bilateral political, commercial, cultural and science and 
technology agreements.  Separately, Argentina's Planning 
Minister De Vido told Ambassador that President Kirchner is 
privately very impressed by President Calderon, and Deputy 
Foreign Minister Garcia Moritan said that the Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs sees excellent economic and strategic benefit 
in building closer cooperation with Mexico.  Garcia Moritan 
said First Lady and presidential candidate Cristina Fernandez 
de Kirchner is a strong supporter of building closer ties to 
Mexico. 
 
¶2. (SBU)  Mexican Ambassador de la Garza said she felt U.S. 
engagement with Argentina was critical but recommended 
waiting until after the October presidential election for 
engaging on new initiatives.  On MERCOSUR, she noted the 
problem with the economic "asymmetries" of the member 
countries, expressed Mexico's interest in increasing ties, 
but stressed that Mexico would likely never become a full 
member because MERCOSUR calls for integration beyond trade 
and commercial ties.  End Summary. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Ambassador and A/PolCouns on July 13 called on 
Mexican Ambassador to Argentina Maria Cristina de la Garza. 
De la Garza explained that the "Strategic Association 
Agreement" to be signed by Presidents Kirchner and Calderon 
during the former's official visit to Mexico July 30-31, is 
essentially an umbrella instrument under which the two 
countries will group the approximately 15 existing agreements 
covering various political, commercial, cultural and science 
and technology areas.  Most importantly, de la Garza 
explained, the Association was a reflection of both parties' 
political will to strengthen and deepen bilateral relations. 
 
¶4. (SBU) De la Garza noted that Mexico was culturally 
important in Argentina.  Mexican art, literature and popular 
culture have long been popular in Argentina.  During 
Argentina's military dictatorship, Mexico was home to the 
largest Argentine exile community.  Today, the Mexican 
Embassy continues to promote youth and cultural interchanges. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In a July 23 meeting with Planning Minister Julio De 
Vido, De Vido stressed to the Ambassador the importance of 
the bilateral commercial relationship with Mexico and that he 
may travel with the Kirchners to Mexico.  He stated that 
President Kirchner had met on several occasions with Mexican 
magnate Carlos Slim.  De Vido also noted that Kirchner and 
President Calderon get along quite well, that the two had 
clicked when Calderon visited Argentina as President-elect. 
De Vido told the Ambassador that, at least due to this 
relationship, he expected the bilateral relationship to 
deepen.  It was not this way, De Vido offered, with former 
President Fox. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Separately Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Garcia 
Moritan told the Ambassador that the MFA sees deepened 
relations with Mexico as beneficial economically and as 
helpfully broadening Argentina's strategic ties to other 
Latin American countries.  He said Cristina Fernandez de 
Kirchner strongly supports this deepened relationship. 
 
¶7. (SBU) In the conversation with Mexican Ambassador de la 
Garza, Ambassador noted that the Mexican-Argentine 
relationship was, in his view, important as it counteracted 
some of the sub-regional nationalism evident and provided 
some balance to Argentina's growing commercial dependence on 
Venezuela.  De la Garza agreed and opined that she believed 
Argentina was seeking balance in its foreign relations.  She 
also stated her belief that the U.S. and U.S. initiatives 
were important for Argentina but recommended we wait until 
after the October presidential elections before trying to 
engage on new initiatives. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Responding to Ambassador's query about relations 
with MERCOSUR, de la Garza explained that Mexico was an 
Associate Member and very interested in increasing links to 
MERCOSUR, but stressed that Mexico would likely never become 
a full member.  MERCOSUR's concept implies greater 
integration than Mexico could undertake due to its trade 
agreements with some 47 countries, including NAFTA.  For many 
Argentines, she explained, they confuse the mechanisms of 
NAFTA with MERCOSUR's.  MERCOSUR is a very different concept 
and this accounted for some the problems the group was 
experiencing in moving toward more integration, due to the 
"asymmetries" between the member states. 
 
¶9. SBU Comment:  De la Garza is a knowledgeable, engaged 
observer of Argentina, its domestic politics and its role in 
the region. And, the Mexicans enjoy a positive relationship 
with the GoA and Argentine society.  Embassy will look for 
ways our two missions might be able to work together to 
advance common issues such as freer trade, strengthening 
institutions and promoting more north-south interchange. 
WAYNE