DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PROPOSED ARMS TRADE TREATY

UNCLAS MEXICO 002804 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR PM/DTCP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC UNDC PARM MX SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PROPOSED ARMS TRADE TREATY (ATT) REF: STATE 63299 ¶1. (SBU) POLOFF delivered reftel demarche on May 31 to the Foreign Secretariat's (SRE's) Deputy Director General for UN-Related Security and Legal Issues Julian Juarez Cardenas. Juarez said the GOM is aware of U.S. opposition to the UN-proposed Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Mexico views the U.S. as a source country for significant transfers of illegal arms into Mexico which are seriously altering the balance of power between criminal organizations and state security elements. He indicated that Mexico would not be inclined to support the U.S. position opposing the ATT. The GOM does not wish to affect legitimate business trade, but rather wants to ensure that arms producers and sellers act responsibly and are careful about whom the arms reach. Juarez took note of U.S. concerns regarding the treaty and commented that Mexico is assessing the ATT's potential viability. ¶2. (SBU) Post does not feel that a public diplomacy campaign to shape public opinion on this issue would be productive at this time. GOM officials have regularly expressed to us their concerns about illicit arms transfers across the U.S.-Mexico border, and the Mexican media has underscored the large quantity of these transfers. A public diplomacy campaign in opposition to the ATT would almost certainly cause government officials and members of the press to intensify their criticism that the U.S. is not doing more to stop illicit arms flows, and would have little likelihood of resulting in Mexican support for the U.S. position. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity and the North American Partnership Blog at http://www.intelink.gov/communities/state/nap / BASSETT