VZCZCXRO2266
RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #1197/01 1191636
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291636Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6288
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 001197 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM SNAR KJUS MX
SUBJECT: POTUS CODEL, ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE EXCHANGE 
VIEWS ON CALDERON'S ANTI-CRIME EFFORTS 
 
¶1.  (U)  Summary.  Representatives from the Mexican Attorney 
General's (PGR) Office met with a group of U.S. Congressional 
members traveling with POTUS April 16 to discuss challenges 
in the GOM's efforts to combat organized crime.  They 
stressed the importance of trust between the U.S. and Mexico 
in taking on organized crime and requested the U.S. do more 
to obstruct the flow of weapons into Mexico from the U.S. 
The Congressional members praised the GOM's efforts and 
assured the PGR officials they would step up efforts to 
address their concerns about arms trafficking.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U)  A group of Congressional members traveling with 
POTUS on his trip to Mexico April 16-17 included Sen. Max 
Baucus (Montana), Rep. Javier Becerra (CA), Rep. Sam Farr 
(CA), Rep. Kendrick Meek (FL), Rep. Charlie Rangel (NY), Rep. 
Ciro Rodriguez (TX), and Rep. Nydia Velasquez (NY).  The 
group of PGR officials that met with the Congressional 
members consisted of Marsela Morales Ibanez, Deputy Attorney 
General; Irving Barrios Mojica, General Coordinator for the 
Speciailized Unit of Investigations of Crimes Against Health; 
Adrian Franco Zevada, International Affairs Coordinator; 
Leopoldo Velardo, General Director for Extraditions and Legal 
Assistance; Ariel Moutsatso Morales, Special Advisor to the 
Attorney General; and Oscar Rocha Dabrowski, Special Advisor 
to the Attorney General. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Special Advisor Rocha described the great strides 
the U.S. and Mexico had made in terms of cooperation in 
combating organized crime.  The unprecedented cooperation 
between our two countries had produced major achievements 
both in terms of record seizures and the arrests of major 
crime figures.  Trust was key.  The PGR was implementing a 
strict and comprehensive vetting program of its own people. 
All of those attending the meeting with the Congressional 
members had been administered a polygraph test.  He noted 
that the Attorney General's former deputy had been arrested 
for ties to organized crime, an event that hurt PGR morale at 
the time but reinforced how serious the government was about 
cleaning house. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  In response to Sen. Baucus' question about how 
President Calderon's efforts were playing politically and 
what the U.S. could do to support him, Rocha made two points. 
 
 
-- First, he noted that Calderon was under pressure to show 
results.  Sustained levels of high violence raised questions 
about the efficacy of his program.  Some segments of the 
Mexican publie, he said, even suggested it was time for the 
government to strike an agreement with the cartels.  This was 
unthinkable for  law enforcement officials involved in this 
fight.  Calderon's unwavering commitment to turn back the 
tide of organized crime and transform Mexico into a "normal" 
country was inspiring for them. 
 
-- Second, Mexico blamed the high levels of violence seen 
across the country on the flow of weapons entering Mexico 
from the U.S.  Two-thirds of the weapons seized in Mexico are 
assault weapons brought in from the U.S.  If the U.S. wanted 
to demonstrate its support for Mexico and President Calderon, 
the best thing it could do would be to stop the flow of 
weapons across the border.  At the end, Mexico couldn't speak 
to whether the U.S. needed to enact new legislation, or if 
instead, more effective implementation of existing 
legislation was the answer.  That was for the U.S. decide. 
The U.S. Congressional members signaled they were prepared to 
do more on this issue mainly through dedicating greater 
resources; they indicated adopting new legislation including 
on assault weapons would face serious opposition and wasn't 
presently on the table.  Sen. Baucus suggested the GOM invite 
NRA representatives to Mexico in an effort to sensitize them 
to the challenges Mexico is facing and seek their support; 
the Mexican representatives indicated that had already 
extended an invitation but had not received a response. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Rep. Rangel signaled his own opposition to the 
legalization of drugs and asked where Mexico stood on this 
issue.  Rocha suggested that movement in some U.S. states 
towards the legalization marijuana sent Mexico mixed signals. 
 Half of the proceeds of cartels trafficking drugs into the 
U.S. came from marijuana sales.  Mexico would like to see the 
U.S. do more to crack down on marijuana trafficking. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Comment.  Mexico's PGR representatives spoke well 
to the importance the GOM attaches to cooperation with the 
U.S. in efforts to combat organized crime.  They recognize 
building trust between our two countries is essential. 
Mexico has made significant strikes in fighting corruption 
but is not out of the woods yet.  It appreciates U.S. support 
and looks forward to the day when cooperation and trust will 
 
MEXICO 00001197  002 OF 002 
 
 
be routine components of our relationship. 
 
¶7.  (U)  POTUS CODEL members did not have an opportunity to 
clear on this message before their departure. 
 
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