CALDERON WOOS, WOWS, OTTAWA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 006275

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/02/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL MX CA
SUBJECT: CALDERON WOOS, WOWS, OTTAWA

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL MINISTER-COUNSELOR ALAN D. MELTZER, REA
SONS: 1.4(B/D).


1. (C) Summary: President-elect Felipe Calderon's October
26-27 visit to Ottawa exceeded expectations on both sides,
with Calderon winning over both his public and private sector
interlocutors. Canadian embassy contacts tell us he
impressed his Ottawa contacts with his energy, intelligence
and confidence, and succeeded in developing a particularly
good personal rapport with PM Harper. Our Canadian contacts
emphasized, however, that the Mexicans seemed far more
interested in optics than in substance: the Canadians were
surprised Calderon did not raise the issue of NAFTA's
agricultural provisions -- scheduled to go into effect in
2008 -- or of the North American Development Fund, a subject
that has captured Calderon's attention in the past. He did
not even address the issue of the proposed fence on the
U.S.-Mexican border until asked about it at a press
appearance. On an unrelated matter, Canada and Mexico are
scheduled to hold a one day round of security and defense
cooperation talks in Mexico City on November 6. End summary.

Political Soulmates in the Making?
--------------


2. (C) According to contacts in the Canadian embassy here,
Calderon's meeting with Canadian PM Harper began with a
one-on-one session that lasted longer than scheduled. When
aides joined the two leaders for a longer session, they found
the two leaders appeared to have developed a warm personal
chemistry. Canadian Political Counselor Andre Charbonneau
attributed the strong chemistry to the fact that the two
leaders are close in age, ideology, and political experience.
He predicted that with Calderon about to begin a six year
term, and with Harper riding high in the polls, the two
leaders could become long-term allies. He said the Canadians
were surprised Calderon did not raise either the issue of the
liberalization under NAFTA of trade in corn and beans,
scheduled to go into effect in 2008, or the North American
Development Fund. He said Calderon expressed his interest in
finding areas in which to expand the scope of both NAFTA and
the North American Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).



3. (SBU) Calderon apparently made an equally favorable
impression on his interlocutors outside the executive branch.
Canadian opposition legislators were impressed that he made
the effort to meet with them separately, as well as his skill
during those meetings in engaging all the attendees in the
conversation. He delivered a very well-received speech to a
group of Canadian business executives; the executives
appeared impressed by his energy and command of the issues.

The Wall
--------------


4. (C) Although much of the Mexican press coverage of the
visit focused on Calderon's public comments about the
proposed fence on the U.S.-Mexican border, the Canadians
noted with surprise that Calderon himself did not raise the
issue in his meeting with Harper. Rather, a Mexican
journalist asked Calderon about the issue at their joint
press appearance after the meeting. When asked, Calderon
harshly criticized the measure, comparing it to the Berlin
Wall. For his part, Harper commented vaguely on the issue,
noting that the GOC shared the USG's concern for safe and
secure borders, even as it opposed "things that cause
unnecessary barriers to trade and ordinary exchange of
tourism." (Note: Our Canadian counterparts told us Harper
did not intend his comments to be seen as support for
Calderon's position, although some in the Mexican media have
characterized them as such. End note.)

Other Canadian-Mexican Issues
--------------


5. (C) Charbonneau noted that Calderon's visit followed
closely on the October 23-24 Canada-Mexico Interparliamentary
Meeting in Ottawa. At the meeting, the Mexican delegation
expressed strong support for initiating annual, three-way,
North American legislative meetings. It also proposed
establishing smaller interparliamentary commissions to
address in detail specific issues of common interest.


6. (C) On an unrelated issue, the Canadians told us that
Canada-Mexico bilateral security and defense cooperation
talks would take place November 6 in Mexico City. They said
the Mexican delegation would be led by SRE Undersecretary
Geronimo Gutierrez, with a diverse delegation traveling from
Ottawa to participate. He added that the Calderon transition
team supported the talks and likely would send an observer.

MEXICO 00006275 002 OF 002


Among the issues to be covered are hemispheric security, Iran
and North Korea.

Comment: Playing to the Home Audience
--------------


7. (C) Calderon's focus on optics over substance in his
Canadian visit confirms our impression that his pre-inaugural
travels are directed far more to his home audience than to
the foreign leaders with whom he has met. With defeated
challenger Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador planning to inaugurate
himself as Mexico's "legitimate president" on November 20,
Calderon is eager to seize every available opportunity to
enhance his stature and legitimacy at home. Nevertheless,
his Ottawa visit certainly won him fans in Canada, which will
serve him well once he assumes office.


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GARZA