PRESIDENT-ELECT CALDERON'S ADVSIORS DISCUSS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 006044

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MX
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT-ELECT CALDERON'S ADVSIORS DISCUSS
FOREIGN POLICY, POLITICAL AGENDA

REF: A. MEXICO 4239

B. MEXICO 5991


1. (SBU) Begin Summary. During an October 20 seminar on
Mexican policy perspectives sponsored by the Autonomous
Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM),Transition Team
International Affairs Advisor Arturo Sarukhan discussed
President-elect Felipe Calderon's foreign policy priorities,
placing the U.S. squarely in front while implicitly
criticizing the Fox administration for a lack of leadership
in Latin America. Following Sarukhan's remarks, Transition
Team political advisor Daniel Hernandez discussed Calderon's
commitment to legislative progress on security, prosperity,
and poverty reduction. A biographic note on Hernandez is
included. End summary.

Criticizing Mexico's Foreign Policy, Surukhan Calls for
Leadership
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) Sarukhan (ref A) began his remarks by lamenting the
GOM's lack of foreign policy leadership in Latin America
compared to countries like Brazil, emphasizing Mexico's need
to assume a more active role in post Cold War international
relations. He made clear that Calderon would have three
foreign policy focuses: the United States, Latin America, and
Asia Pacific, reflecting the order of Mexico's interests
abroad. He noted that the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs is
vastly under-resourced, especially its consulates in the
U.S., which he said require increased capacity to lobby more
effectively on behalf of national interests. Sarukhan
concluded that a more robust foreign policy could help unify
Mexico's polarized society and make Mexico a leader in Latin
America.


3. (SBU) With regard to relations with the United States,
Sarukhan stressed that no country is more vital to Mexico's
future, while acknowledging this may be an unpopular reality
domestically. The GOM, he calculated, will not successfully
advance its interests if it fails to understand the changed
security environment in the U.S. following September 11, 2001
and learn to negotiate within the context of that new
climate. Sarukhan predicted that Calderon's future
government would not insist on legislative change involving
U.S. immigration policy, but rather would look for ways to
jointly share security and prosperity. He surmised that it
would be inappropriate to initiate any grand new visions for
the bilateral relationship in the next two years, underlining
the importance of building on existing cooperation. Sarukhan
highlighted violence, corruption, and money laundering
related to narco-trafficking as priority concerns for both
countries. The 2008 corn and beans opening under NAFTA would
be another challenging bilateral issue, he noted.

Calderon Seeks Inclusive Political Agenda
--------------


5. (SBU) Substituting for Josefina Vazquez Mota, who was
originally scheduled to attend the seminar, transition team
political advisor Daniel Hernandez emphasized that Calderon
will seek political alliances and public dialogue to achieve
his governing priorities: security, prosperity, and poverty
reduction. He referred to the President-elect's legislative
agenda and the inauguration of the Mexico 2030 project (Ref
B) as evidence of Calderon's efforts to reach out to all
political parties and citizens. Hernandez added that
Calderon recognizes the social changes afoot in
Mexico--demographic shifts, economic transitions resulting
from globalization, the advancement of women in politics, and
increased public insecurity--and would adapt his governing
style to incorporate these new realities.


6. (SBU) Bio note: Daniel Hernandez Franco joined Calderon's
campaign team in January 2006 as an advisor to campaign
coordinator Josefina Vazquez Mota, and is now working as a
political coordinator. Hernandez is a professor of public
policy at ITAM and has published over 50 books related to
demographics, public policy, and the evaluation of social
programs. He studied at the National Autonomous University
of Mexico (UNAM) and holds a Master's in Public Health from
Emory University. For 13 years he researched social
demographics, reproductive health, and maternal care for the
Mexican Social Security Institute. From 1995-1997 Hernandez

MEXICO 00006044 002 OF 002


served as coordinating advisor for the Secretary General of
the National Population Council. In 1997 he became the
General Director of Planning, Evaluation, and Monitoring for
"Progresa" and in 2000 became the National Coordinator of
this federal anti-poverty program (Note: Progresa evolved
into the Opportunities program under President Fox. End
note). Hernandez has also worked as a coordinating advisor
at the Secretariat of Social Development and a professor in
population studies at the Latin American Faculty of Social
Sciences (FLACSO).


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