VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHME #1664/01 1632007
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 122007Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6898
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS MEXICO 001664 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR KCRM PHUM MASS MX
SUBJECT: INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING: CONSENSUS ON 
SECURITY, HOPES FOR MIGRATION REFORM 
 
¶1.  (U)U.S. and Mexican Congressional representatives 
gathered in Seattle, Washington June 5-7 for the annual 
Interparliamentary Group Meeting to discuss interests 
relating to the U.S.-Mexico Strategic Relationship, Migration 
and Wellbeing, Regional Economic Integration/Trade, and 
Alternative Energy and the Environment.  The Mexican 
delegation led by Senate President (PAN) Gustavo Madero Munoz 
and President of the Senate,s North American Commission 
(PAN) Luis Alberto Villareal Garcia  consisted of some 11 
senators and 12 deputies with representatives from all eight 
of Mexico,s political parties.  The U.S. delegation let by 
Sen. Christopher Dodd and Rep. Ed Pastor was made up of one 
senator and nine representatives only one of whom was a 
Republican.  The discussions were generally characterized by 
amicable exchanges with many members of the Mexican 
delegation conveying renewed confidence in the potential 
U.S.-Mexican relationship based on the perceived promise of 
the Obama administration.  Migration proved the most 
sensitive topic of discussion with the Mexicans keen to see 
the U.S. adopt immigration reform.  By contrast, both 
delegations were pleased to tout unprecedented cooperation in 
security matters. 
 
Cooperation Key on Security 
 
¶2.  (U)Rep. Pastor led off the discussion on security 
describing the U.S.-Mexican working relationship in combating 
organized crime as &never closer.8  Pastor, together with 
several U.S. representatives applauded the Calderon 
administration,s commitment to fighting the drug cartels in 
Mexico and the sacrifices it has implied.  Anticipating 
Mexican concerns on the question of arms trafficked into 
Mexico from the U.S., the U.S. delegation conveyed the U.S. 
commitment to do more to address this problem, in particular 
by dedicated more personnel and resources on the border. 
Pastor assured the Mexican delegation the Congress was 
working hard to produce a new package of assistance which 
reflect sustained U.S. commitment to cooperation with Mexico. 
 
¶3.  (U)Several members of the Mexican delegation stressed 
Mexico,s concern about the volume of arms trafficked into 
Mexico from the U.S. and called on the U.S. to take more 
significant measures to attack this problem.  Dip. Edmundo 
Ramirez expressed frustration with conflicting jurisdictions 
within the U.S. in taking up the fight against arms 
trafficking.  Sen. Rosario Green (PRI) recommended U.S. and 
Mexican parliamentary representatives create an informal 
working group to exchange notes and views over the course of 
the year on cooperation in the context of the Merida 
Initiative.  She wanted both sides to reflect on how 
cooperation would evolve after the Merida Initiative was set 
to expire in three years.  Sen. Dodd and Rep. Pastor welcomed 
Green,s recommendation on creating a working group and said 
they would investigate what needed to be done to make it 
happen. 
 
Shared Hopes for Progress in Immigration Reform 
 
¶4.  (U)Mexican delegates expressed much concern about the 
treatment of Mexicans leaving and working in the U.S., 
particularly in connection to the separation of families due 
to the deportation of undocumented Mexican parents.  They 
wanted the U.S. delegation to appreciate the significant 
contribution Mexicans made to the U.S. economy and called 
upon the U.S. to honor its human rights commitments in 
dealing with migrants.  All hoped the Obama administration 
would produce immigration reform that went beyond merely the 
question of work visas.  Noting the security concerns created 
by a lack of documentation on such large numbers of 
individuals, Sen. Rodolfo Dorador Perez Gavilan (PAN) 
insisted immigration reform was in the USG,s own interest. 
 
¶5.  (U)Rep. Zoe Lofgren informed the Mexican delegation that 
President Obama planned to meet with her as a leader on 
immigration reform along with members of the Hispanic Caucus 
in Congress June 17 to discuss a strategy for developing and 
advancing a reform bill.  She was pleased the AFL-CIO had 
come out in support of immigration bill for the first time 
though with some significant caveats.  The U.S. delegation 
conveyed general sympathy for Mexican concerns on the 
question of human rights.  However, they urged the Mexican 
delegation to place greater emphasis on their own efforts to 
create economic opportunities in Mexico as a way to diminish 
the flow of migrants and suggested they note the security 
benefits accruing to the U.S. in connection to immigration 
reform.  While they stressed their commitment to moving on 
immigration reform they wanted the Mexican delegation to 
 
understand this debate would be very contentious. 
 
The Debate Over the Government,s Role in the Economy 
 
¶6.  (SBU)A clear divide appeared within the Mexican 
delegation over the contribution of free trade to development 
and the role of the government in economic matters.  Sen. 
Eloy Cantu (PRI) gave a presentation speaking to the benefits 
of free trade and the need for the U.S. and Mexico to take 
greater steps to lift restrictions and facilitate trade. 
Several other members of the Mexican delegation, however, 
including Raymundo Cardenas Hernandez (PRD) and PRI,s own 
Sen. Green took exception to his remarks with Cardenas in 
particular challenging his assertion that NAFTA had 
contributed to development in Mexico.  He and others wanted 
to see the Government assume a more prominent role in 
regulating trade and promoting development suggesting, the 
USG,s recent interventionism indicated we were on the brink 
of a new developmental paradigm. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)Rep. Pastor and Reyes assumed a much more pragmatic 
approach stressing the need for the government to do more in 
the way of infrastructure development to facilitate greater 
commerce.  Of course, they and others acknowledged the U.S. 
was wading in new waters with the kind of exceptional 
measures embraced of late to stimulate the economy and rescue 
the auto industry.  It was premature to predict whether USG 
would sustain this high level of intervention in the economy. 
 
 
Discussion Over Energy and Environment Still Green 
 
¶8.  (U)The U.S. lead the discussion over energy and the 
environment speaking to the Obama administration,s 
commitment to tacking the related challenges aggressively 
both in the U.S. and in cooperation with other countries. 
Joint resources management was something we should be looking 
at sooner rather than later giving the synergies and 
potential for alternative fuels in both our countries.  The 
U.S. has expertise to offer and we should start by exploring 
joint projects on the border.  Rep. Cardenas didn,t miss an 
opportunity to blame the culture of &consumerism8 in the 
U.S. for much of the world,s environmental problems. 
Outside of this commentary, the Mexican side offered little 
of substance on this subject. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Comment: Discussions between the two sides was 
generally positive and constructive.  Both the U.S. and 
Mexico clearly appreciated the importance of cooperation in 
combating organized crime and would like to see more down to 
deepen exchanges of information on efforts.  Taking in the 
Obama administration,s commitment to immigration reform, the 
Mexican delegation hoped to see movement on this issue in the 
near future.  The session on trade exposed the widening 
debate over the proper role of the government in promoting 
development.  The exchange over energy and environment 
suggested both sides need to do more to elaborate ways we can 
deepen cooperation in an area they offers so many challenges 
and opportunities. 
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 / 
 
WILLIARD