VZCZCXRO8329
RR RUEHAO RUEHRS RUEHTRO
DE RUEHME #0117/01 0501858
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191858Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0535
INFO ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USNORTHCOM PETERSON AFB CO
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0009

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000117 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR DAS RUSSELL AND RUS SCOTT, WHA DAS JACOBSON AND WHA MEX LEE 
NSC FOR RESTREPO 
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA 
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC 
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/19 
TAGS: PREL MNUC PARM KGHG UNSC IAEA KNNP IR RS HA MX
SUBJECT: Russian FM Lavrov Visit to Mexico: Constructive and 
Non-Ideological 
 
REF: 10 MOSCOW 159; 10 MOSCOW 295; 09 MOSCOW 20 
 
DERIVED FROM: DSCG 05-1 B, D 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Senior Mexican Foreign Ministry sources 
characterized the brief working visit of Russian Foreign Minister 
Lavrov as constructive and focused on multi-lateral and regional 
issues, i.e., Iran, UN Security Council and Human Rights, Honduras, 
and Haiti.  Lavrov was non-ideological, and forward looking in 
talking about Russia's interests in the region and "positive about 
the U.S." according to SRE sources.  Notwithstanding a joint press 
conference with SRE Secretary Espinosa, Mexican press coverage was 
scant and Russian headlines focused on arms' sales were not 
accurate.  End Summary. 
 
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Detailed Discussion of Iran 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) SRE Director General for Europe Jose Madrazo was upbeat on 
the less than 24-hour visit, which capped a four country tour by 
the Russian Foreign Minister that began in Havana.  Madrazo said 
Lavrov was very constructive in his working meeting with SRE 
Espinosa and the follow-on working lunch. (The only other item on 
the agenda was an event at the Polytechnic University launching a 
new Russian studies program there.)  The focus was primarily on 
regional and UN issues.  According to Madrazo, Lavrov gave a very 
detailed briefing on Iran, noting Russian concerns about Iran's 
lack of cooperation on the nuclear issue and about prospects for 
sanctions and other possible measures, e.g. transferring Uranium 
enrichment outside of Iran.  It was clear, said Madrazo, that the 
Russians wanted to provide a very detailed picture of how they saw 
the problem.  Espinosa was largely in a listening mode. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
Mexico Lead on Regional Discussion 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
¶3. (C) Espinosa took the lead in briefing on Mexico's plans for the 
upcoming CARICOM/Rio Group high level meetings  it was hosting in 
Cancun (February 20-25) and in reviewing regional challenges in 
Haiti and Honduras.  Madrazo said that Lavrov was of the opinion 
that it was time to "move on in Honduras;" everyone understood what 
had happened, the key now was to incorporate Honduras back into the 
international fold and to help it with recovery.  Madrazo said that 
Lavrov was "absolutely pragmatic" on Russia's ties with Latin 
America, casting them in non-ideological terms and downplaying the 
relationship with Venezuela and the ALBA countries.  On Haiti, 
Lavrov was pessimistic -- "downright cynical" was how Madrazo 
characterized it -- and he did not raise Mexico's possible stronger 
participation in MINUSTAH.  "Lavrov knows what a difficult and 
sensitive issue that is for us." 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
Climate Change. Energy and Commercial Ties 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
¶4. (C) On climate change, Madrazo said that Lavrov promised strong 
support in the COP 16.  On energy cooperation, there was a brief 
discussion of two Memoranda of Understanding on Energy cooperation, 
set to be finalized in conjunction with end of March meetings that 
will bring Energy Ministers and oil executives to Mexico.  Madrazo 
said there was some discussion of shared priories in the G-20 and 
in other international fora.  There was also a "productive 
exchange" on visa liberalization for Russian tourists and 
strengthening "long-ignored" trade and commercial ties. 
 
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MEXICO 00000117  002 OF 002 
 
 
Joint Declaration and Press Play 
 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (C) A nine-page joint declaration covered the full range of 
topics on the bi-lateral agenda without specifying any particularly 
useful details.  Press coverage was scant in Mexican dailies -- 
Lavrov did not engage on questions related to the Rio Summit and 
growing arms exports to Latin America at the joint press 
conference.  Russian coverage on the web seemed to focus on the 
possibility of an imminent new arms deal. 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
Zero Talk of Arms Sales 
 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) Madrazo said there was "absolute zero talk of any arms 
sales," a topic which has not been raised in any detailed way 
between the two countries since Mexico purchased a number of 
transport helicopters some years back.  There were two maintenance 
installations in country which had worked well in keeping the 
helicopters in good shape but, according to Madrazo, Mexico has "no 
interest in buying arms from Russia."  There was a review of 
transnational threats, particularly with regard to organized crime 
and drug trafficking, an understandable agenda item given the 
similar challenges facing both countries. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
Good Chemistry -- Medvedev Invite 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶7. (C) Madrazo said the talks reflected the good chemistry between 
the two Foreign Ministers, who were meeting for the fourth time 
(APEC (Peru) and Moscow in 2008 and the General Assembly in 2009). 
The Mexican's extended an invitation for President Medvedev to 
visit in 2010, most likely not in connection with the Russian 
leader's April visit to Argentina but linked to a future trip to 
the U.S. or to a UN event.  Madrazo said that Lavrov was very 
positive in his references to the United States, noting his 
interest in working closely with us on a range of issues. 
 
--------------- 
 
Comment 
 
--------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Comment: Lavrov's visit was driven largely by Mexico's 
position on the UN Security Council.  Russia wants to keep good 
lines of communication open in case they need to seek Espinosa's 
support on key votes.  Lavrov's short visit reflected much of what 
Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov and then A/S Shannon discussed back 
in 2008 (ref C).  The Mexicans were impressed with Lavrov's 
skillful management of the discussions, appreciative of the 
briefing on Iran, and encouraged by the practical and 
non-ideological way in which Lavrov discussed the region.  End 
Comment 
PASCUAL