AMLO READY TO MAKE FOREIGN POLICY STATEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 001461



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E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2016

TAGS: PGOV, PREL, MX

SUBJECT: AMLO READY TO MAKE FOREIGN POLICY STATEMENT



Classified By: POLCOUNS LESLIE BASSETT FOR REASONS 1.4 B,D





1. (C) Summary: Jose Maria Perez Gay told poloffs 3/17

that Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) candidate Andres

Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) would lay out his initial foreign

policy approach on March 21 in Ciudad Juarez. Perez Gay, who

is writing the speech, said AMLO would base his foreign

policy on a strict interpretation of Mexico's constitution,

implying a return to Mexico's non-interventionist positions

prior to current President Fox. AMLO would also discuss a

"New Deal" for Mexico to generate opportunities and thus

blunt the migration trend. Perez Gay cautioned that AMLO

does not have any designated emissaries in the U.S., and

regretted that U.S. government agencies were being told

otherwise. End Summary.



AMLO's Foreign Policy



2. (C) Perez Gay said AMLO deliberately chose a border

location for his foreign policy address, which will be

delivered on the 200th anniversary of Benito Juarez' death.

According to Perez Gay, Ciudad Juarez played an important

role in the early stages of Mexico's diplomatic history,

another reason for choosing the venue. AMLO's team hoped to

gather 12,000 people for the event, including many mothers of

the female murder victims killed within the city. Perez Gay

said AMLO's foreign policy would be rooted in a faithful

interpretation of the Mexican constitution, based on respect

for other nations, non-integration and non-intervention in

the internal affairs of other countries. AMLO would make no

mention of either Cuba or Venezuela. The United States would

be treated as a special case, he continued. AMLO wanted to

stress his regret that so many Mexicans saw their future in

the U.S. rather than in Mexico, Perez Gay stated, and would

eventually announce a kind of "New Deal" to generate

employment and opportunities for Mexicans in Mexico. It is

not a source of pride for us that $20 billion arrives

annually from the U.S. in remittances, Perez Gay elaborated.

Those earnings should be generated here, not in the U.S.

AMLO would not touch too much on narcotrafficking or security

issues specifically, Perez Gay concluded, but would stress

the value and importance of the border area to the region's

economic, social and political future.



3. (C) Perez Gay continued that he (as presumptive Foreign

Secretary if AMLO is elected) was very interested in



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expanding his knowledge of the border, and in hearing the

U.S. "top four" operational ideas for making the border more

secure, and for controlling migration. He would like, before

the elections, to have a briefing on current border

procedures and challenges. If the PRD candidate wins, he

continued, they would like to arrange for AMLO to tour the

border shortly after the election to see first-hand the

successes and challenges ahead. In the interim, Perez Gay's

assistant will seek a tour of the CJ-El Paso border.



4. (C) Perez Gay said he and AMLO were both interested in

dealing more aggressively with the problem of trafficking in

persons (TIP). Poloffs described some of the joint

initiatives underway and legislation pending in the Chamber

of Deputies. They also provided the 2005 TIP report and

related materials.



No Emissaries



5. (C) Poloffs inquired about the alleged network of

U.S.-based AMLO supporters reportedly authorized to seek

appointments and speak on AMLO's behalf. Perez Gay said

there were no/no "AMLO emissaries" in the U.S. and

self-described envoys like Jorge De los Santos did not have

the candidate's authorization to speak for him. Perez Gay's

objections seemed based more on the concern that it would

look presumptuous to be seeking meetings before victory was

secured. Poloffs pointed out that the presumed "AMLO

emissaries" were pushing on open doors. There was a great

deal of interest in hearing more about AMLO and his positions

-- it would make sense for someone to start reaching out.

(Note: At a recent university conference where the foreign

policy advisors for the three candidates were expected, the

PRD was again a no show).



Small Shop, Big Job



6. (C) Comment: Perez Gay has added an assistant to his

one-man operation, but continues to operate out of his house,

where he has received a number of visitors from the U.S. and

other countries. Poloffs agreed to continue to provide

unclassified background materials to Perez Gay on bilateral



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assistance programs and other issues. At Perez Gay's request

we will also offer briefings on USAID programs, especially

judicial reform, and border issues. With AMLO polling 10

points ahead of everyone else, it can do no harm to try and



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bring his team up to speed on our bilateral programs.



7. (C) Bio note: Perez Gay expressed his concern that it

was presumptuous for AMLO backers to meet with USG officials

in the U.S. before victory was secured, a reflection of his

concern that the campaign be correct in its (extremely

limited) dealings with foreigners. Perez Gay also suggested

for the first time that he would not be Foreign Secretary

under AMLO, speculating that for political reasons his friend

AMLO might need to offer the job to someone else. However,

throughout most of the conversation Perez Gay talked as

though he fully expected to be Foreign Secretary if AMLO

wins. Perez Gay seems to have a hip condition that clearly

impedes his ability to walk, and appears to have gotten worse

over recent weeks. It may be that health concerns are part

of the consideration about whether or not he will be part of

an AMLO cabinet. It's clear that for now, however, he is

both foreign policy advisor and close personal friend. End

comment





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