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DE RUEHME #0472/01 0512213
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 202213Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5179
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFIUU/HQ USNORTHCOM
RUEAHLA/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000472 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SNAR KCRM MX
SUBJECT:  CODEL ENGEL DISCUSSES SECURITY ISSUES WITH 
MEMBERS OF MEXICAN SENATE 
 
¶1.  Unclassified - entire text. 
 
¶2.   Summary:  During a February 17 lunch with Mexican 
Senators, Representative Eliot Engel and members of the House 
Foreign Affairs Western Hemisphere Sub-committee discussed 
the growing economic and security challenges facing both the 
U.S. and Mexico.   Chairman Eliot Engel told his Mexican 
hosts that the U.S. was committed to continue working with 
Mexico to address security concerns.  He expressed his belief 
that the U.S. needs to redouble its efforts to confront 
organized crime along the border and pledged to help 
Presidents Obama and Calderon establish and maintain a strong 
relationship in the coming months. Hosting the lunch on 
behalf of the Mexican Senate,  leader Gustavo Madero called 
for closer cooperation between the two countries and 
expressed his appreciation for the Merida Initiative. 
 
Shared Border, Shared Problems 
 
¶3.  In a generally amiable discussion that drew in nearly 
every lunch participant, Senators and their U.S. guests were 
frank in describing the challenges and common problems facing 
both countries.   Senator Rodolfo Dorador Perez Gavilan (PAN) 
noted that Mexico's public security challenges and escalating 
violence were related to illlegal drug use in the U.S., but 
that Mexico's own domestic consumption of illegal narcotics 
was increasing as well.  Representative Mark Souder 
emphasized efforts in the U.S. to address consumption through 
a wide array of education, health and public service 
programs.  Such efforts, he said,  are not always appreciated 
either in the U.S. or abroad. He noted that many programs, 
not thought to be directly related to demand reduction, 
include prevention and treatment programs aimed at drug 
abuse.  Total investment in such programs amounts to billions 
of dollars annually.    Senator Rosario Green (PRI), however, 
still questioned whether enough resources were being devoted, 
given the dimension of the problem. 
 
Arms Trafficking and Money Laundering 
 
¶4.  Senator Green also said that close scrutiny was need to 
control the flows of arms and money between Mexico and the 
U.S.  Illegal arms trafficking from the U.S., in particular, 
appears to be a highly organized effort, she opined and 
pointedly asked her guests why more could not be done to stem 
the flow of military grade weapons that are making their way 
to Mexico from the U.S.  Chairman Engel said that the U.S. is 
addressing arms trafficking, and called attention to his 
recent letter to President Obama urging him to renew 
enforcement of a ban of imports of assault weapons.  Senator 
Green also expressed concern about money laundering 
operations in the U.S. and urged members of the visiting 
delegation to strengthen U.S. banking regulations to better 
curb such operations. 
 
Poverty and Security 
 
¶5.  Senator Mirna Gomez (PRI) opined that poor economic 
conditions and limited employment opportunities are the root 
cause of organized crime in Mexico and linked this to current 
immigration practices.  When Mexicans are deported from the 
U.S. they often have nowhere to turn except joining DTOs, she 
averred.  Mexico's government  needs U.S. help, she stated. 
U.S. Representative Jean Schmidt asked for the two most 
important steps the U.S. could take. U.S. Representative John 
Salazar suggested that countries in the hemishere could 
increase their cooperation and probed his hosts for 
suggestions on how Mexico itself could promote economic 
development.  Senator Eloy Cantu Segovia (PRI) responded by 
saying Mexico and the U.S. need to combine efforts to compete 
globally, but lamented that the two countries have been 
unable to create a joint legislative mechanism to improve the 
trans-border business environment.  In May 2007, he noted, 
the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group called on the 
creation of a competitiveness commission, but it has yet to 
follow through on the commitment.   U.S. Representative 
Hinojosa said education is also key to combatting poverty and 
suggested expanding teacher and research exchanges between 
the two countries. 
 
¶6.  Both sides concluded the lunch pledging to work more 
 
MEXICO 00000472  002 OF 002 
 
 
closely to address shared economic and security problems. 
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