NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP OUTREACH MEETING TO MEXICO

UNCLAS MEXICO 000871 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/NES DICK STRATFORD AND ROBIN DELABARRE UNVIE FOR LISA HILLIARD DOE FOR RICHARD GOOREVICH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OTRA ENRG KNNP PARP TRGY MX SUBJECT: NUCLEAR SUPPLIERS GROUP OUTREACH MEETING TO MEXICO REF: STATE 14235 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During outreach meetings with GOM officials, representatives of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) were told that Mexico would like to join the NSG. This visit followed an NSG "Troika" (current, past, and future NSG chairs) outreach visit to Mexico in January 2006. The Chairman advised the Mexican delegation that the GOM's adherence would be welcomed and said that consensus was required for membership. The troika presented the steps that Mexico must take to adhere to NSG guidelines and eventually join the NSG. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On February 15-16, Chairman of the NSG Consultative Group Richard Goorevich accompanied NSG Chair Ambassador Artur Denot Medeiros, Special Representative for Disarmament and Non Proliferation of Brazil, and previous NSG Chair Ambassador Roald Naess of Norway. The NSG representatives were responding to a GOM invitation for meetings to continue outreach efforts and provide assistance to Mexico in the establishment of effective nuclear export controls. ¶3. (SBU) The February 15 meeting included over 35 well-prepared attendees from seven GOM agencies. It was led by Ambassador Juan Manuel Gomez Robledo Verduzco, Mexico's Deputy Representative to the UN and President of the UN Sixth Committee. Robledo stated that the GOM is looking to take steps to join the NSG, and recognizes that there are two major hurdles to seeking membership: the GOM does not have a nuclear export control system in place and needs to amend Mexico's nuclear-related legislation to provide such a system; and joining the NSG would represent a departure from a 30-year policy of not taking part in any regimes not legally mandated. He said the GOM recognizes that the non-proliferation threat has increased and Mexican policy needs to evolve. Robledo added that Mexico's disarmament policy will not change. There was a discussion that the GOM should look at nuclear power expansion to address expected future energy shortages. ¶4. (SBU) The Chairman told the Mexican participants that the GOM's adherence would be warmly welcomed. He said that consensus among current members is required for membership, and that the NSG could take a decision only after all consideration and adherence procedures were completed. The troika presented the steps that a state must take to adhere to NSG guidelines and eventually join the NSG. A conversation ensued regarding how to enforce export controls. ¶5. (SBU) The February 16 discussion was dedicated to answering questions on the legal and technical aspects of implementing NSG guidelines on a national level. After each question, members of the troika discussed how aspects of the NSG guidelines were implemented in their respective countries. GOM questions focused on the cost of export controls, verification of the process on a national level, enforcement, coordination between licensing and customs activities, and benefits of joining the group. The GOM participants understand that Mexico has significant work before it in order to adhere to the guidelines, but reiterated the commitment to comply with UNSCR 1540. The troika pledged to stay in contact with the GOM and answer additional questions that arise. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity GARZA