Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MEXICO185
2007-01-13 00:27:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT CALDERON CALLS FOR GREATER FOREIGN

Tags:  PGOV PREL MX 
pdf how-to read a cable
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000185 

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL MX
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT CALDERON CALLS FOR GREATER FOREIGN
POLICY LEADERHIP, PARTICULARLY IN LATIN AMERICA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 000185

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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

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Secretary Genaro Garcia Luna, Attorney General Eduardo Medina

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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

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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

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Latin America would not affect Mexico's relations with the
U.S.


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