PRESIDENT CALDERON CALLS FOR GREATER FOREIGN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000185 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL MX SUBJECT: PRESIDENT CALDERON CALLS FOR GREATER FOREIGN POLICY LEADERHIP, PARTICULARLY IN LATIN AMERICA ¶1. (U) Summary: During the January 9-10 annual meeting of Mexican ambassadors and counsels, President Calderon envisioned Mexico's foreign policy as "more of Mexico in the world and more of the world in Mexico." He told his country's top diplomats to execute a "responsible and active foreign policy," calling on Mexico to assume leadership positions in international and regional forums--particularly in Latin America--and conduct respectful relations with all countries. He urged the global expansion of democratic values and human rights, emphasized the need to compete effectively in a world to which Mexico is more connected than ever before, and imagined a Mexico that would become a magnet for international investment and tourism. With regard to the U.S., Calderon said relations would be based on realism and that migration reform would no longer form the center of bilateral relations. Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa Cantellano echoed Calderon's message and stated that Mexico also wishes to normalize relations with Cuba and Venezuela. End summary. ¶2. (U) Secretary Espinosa presided over the 18th conference of Mexico's top diplomats that took place at the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE) January 9-10. 68 ambassadors and 56 counsels attended the meeting, along with Interior Secretary Francisco Javier Ramirez Acuna, Public Security SIPDIS Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna, Attorney General Eduardo Medina SIPDIS Mora, Finance Secretary Agustin Carstens, Economy Secretary Eduardo Sojo, Public Education Secretary Josefina Vazquez Mota, Tourism Secretary Rodolfo Elizondo, and Sergio Vela, Chairman of the National Council for Culture and the Arts. President Calderon appeared at the meeting January 10, accompanied by most members of his cabinet, Supreme Court Chief Justice Guillermo Ortiz Mayagoitia, and Senate and Chamber of Deputies Presidents Manlio Fabio Beltrones and Jorge Zermeno. ¶3. (U) Speaking at the conference on January 10, President Calderon called for a unified diplomatic corps representing one national foreign policy that would work to recover Mexico's international leadership. He remarked, "I will not stand for humiliation or offense for Mexico, nor will I harbor any grudges or resentment against anyone. It is in Mexicans' best interest that the government maintains positive relations with all countries in the region, without exception, and we will do so without sacrificing any of the principles in which we believe." Regarding U.S.-Mexico relations, Calderon stated that Mexico would act with an "awareness of our national interests" but said that migration should no longer dominate bilateral relations. Calderon asked his diplomatic corps to work to attract investment for Mexico adding that, when faced with investor doubts, they should speak of the GOM's commitment to combating crime and insecurity. Mexican press reported that Undersecretary for North America Carlos Rico instructed Mexico's ambassadors and counsels in North America to change their bilateral strategies with the United States and Canada and focus on the promotion of Mexico, and in the United States to maintain strong ties with the U.S. Congress, trade unions, religious organizations, business representatives, and the Latino community, among others. ¶4. (U) Echoing the President's message, Secretary Espinosa set as a goal increasing Mexico's leadership abroad and said the GOM would look to hold key positions in international organizations. She said the SRE would prioritize the fight against global terrorism and transnational crime, reverse Mexico's loss of economic and political influence abroad, and seek opportunities to contribute to Mexico's domestic development. Espinosa also confirmed the administration's wish to significantly improve Mexico's relations with Cuba and Venezuela, noting that Mexico has historically had friendly relations with these states and wants to amend any differences with them. In response, some members of the PAN political party, including PAN Director for International Relations Rodrigo Ivan Cortes, expressed concern about how Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez might respond to the overture. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Calderon was the first Mexican president to attend the SRE's annual meeting of national dignitaries, signaling that foreign policy would be an important area for the new government. The three key substantive points discussed were the administration's desire to assume a leadership role in Latin America, normalize relations with MEXICO 00000185 002 OF 002 Venezuela and Cuba, and remove migration as the defining issue of U.S.-Mexico relations. It seems doubtful that the GOM expects either Venezuela or Cuba to respond positively to its offer of improved relations, but Calderon is showing that he is taking Mexico's foreign policy in a new direction from that of the Fox administration and does not want to alienate anyone in the region at this early stage. During his subsequent trip to Nicaragua for the inauguration of President Daniel Ortega, President Calderon stated that Mexico's future lies in Latin America; in an interview, Secretary Espinosa said that the GOM's renewed interest in SIPDIS Latin America would not affect Mexico's relations with the U.S. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity GARZA