PUBLIC OUTREACH REINFORCES MISSION PUBLIC

UNCLAS MEXICO 006045 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/MEX, INR, INL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON MX SUBJECT: PUBLIC OUTREACH REINFORCES MISSION PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ON BEHALF OF BROAD POLICY OBJECTIVES ¶1. (U) Summary: The Deputy Secretary built a robust public diplomacy element into his October 29-30 visit to Mexico City. Two TV interviews and a round table with senior print and broadcast leaders (reported septel) substantially buttressed ongoing mission efforts to build public support for the Merida Initiative. During an October 30 breakfast event with the Mexican Council of International Affairs (Comexi) led by former Foreign Minister Francisco Solana, Deputy Secretary Negroponte offered a tour d,horizon of U.S. foreign policy with a focus on the Middle East and Latin America. End Summary ¶2. (U) Following an introduction by PRI Senator Rosario Green in which she asked the Deputy to outline U.S. foreign policy objectives and questioned U.S. engagement in the Western Hemisphere, Negroponte underscored the unchanging principles behind our foreign policy and gave context to the impact of September 11, 2001. He discussed our concerns and efforts regarding the War on Terror, Iraq, and Middle East peace, and emphasized the engagement of the Bush administration in the Western Hemisphere, despite news headlines being elsewhere. ¶3. (U) Assistant Secretary Shannon underscored the point by outlining the strategic importance of the region for the United States and the challenge we collectively face linking democracy and development. He said we are using our trade policy, foreign assistance, and demographic linkages to advance a positive agenda, and singled out Brazil and Mexico as the region,s key players. ¶4. (U) Audience questions spanned the spectrum from immigration, the so-called border &wall8, NAFTA, and the Merida Initiative to Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela. Negroponte stressed the importance of the U.S.-Mexico partnership, was hopeful about Congressional support for the Merida Initiative, and was frank about the prospects for immigration reform during an election season. He said reopening NAFTA to negotiation would be a bad idea, and agreed that more needs to be done to facilitate trade and movement along the border. ¶5. (U) With regard to Cuba, Negroponte referenced President Bush,s recent speech and said the imminent passing of Fidel Castro should be an opportunity for a democratic opening. Iran is an adversary to everything we are trying to accomplish in the Middle East and South Asia, he explained. The U.S. does not know how much substance is behind Venezuela,s efforts to build relations with Iran and believes the Chavez ®ime8 will eventually fall under its own weight, but also takes seriously Chavez,s efforts to import the Iran issue into the hemisphere and recognizes that high oil prices will prolong his survival. Shannon added that we are not interested in an ideological battle, but rather in the ability of governments and institutions to deliver the promise of democracy and development to all citizens of this hemisphere. 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 / GARZA