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