INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING: CONSENSUS ON

UNCLAS MEXICO 001664 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR KCRM PHUM MASS MX SUBJECT: INTERPARLIAMENTARY GROUP MEETING: CONSENSUS ON SECURITY, HOPES FOR MIGRATION REFORM ¶1. (U)U.S. and Mexican Congressional representatives gathered in Seattle, Washington June 5-7 for the annual Interparliamentary Group Meeting to discuss interests relating to the U.S.-Mexico Strategic Relationship, Migration and Wellbeing, Regional Economic Integration/Trade, and Alternative Energy and the Environment. The Mexican delegation led by Senate President (PAN) Gustavo Madero Munoz and President of the Senate,s North American Commission (PAN) Luis Alberto Villareal Garcia consisted of some 11 senators and 12 deputies with representatives from all eight of Mexico,s political parties. The U.S. delegation let by Sen. Christopher Dodd and Rep. Ed Pastor was made up of one senator and nine representatives only one of whom was a Republican. The discussions were generally characterized by amicable exchanges with many members of the Mexican delegation conveying renewed confidence in the potential U.S.-Mexican relationship based on the perceived promise of the Obama administration. Migration proved the most sensitive topic of discussion with the Mexicans keen to see the U.S. adopt immigration reform. By contrast, both delegations were pleased to tout unprecedented cooperation in security matters. Cooperation Key on Security ¶2. (U)Rep. Pastor led off the discussion on security describing the U.S.-Mexican working relationship in combating organized crime as &never closer.8 Pastor, together with several U.S. representatives applauded the Calderon administration,s commitment to fighting the drug cartels in Mexico and the sacrifices it has implied. Anticipating Mexican concerns on the question of arms trafficked into Mexico from the U.S., the U.S. delegation conveyed the U.S. commitment to do more to address this problem, in particular by dedicated more personnel and resources on the border. Pastor assured the Mexican delegation the Congress was working hard to produce a new package of assistance which reflect sustained U.S. commitment to cooperation with Mexico. ¶3. (U)Several members of the Mexican delegation stressed Mexico,s concern about the volume of arms trafficked into Mexico from the U.S. and called on the U.S. to take more significant measures to attack this problem. Dip. Edmundo Ramirez expressed frustration with conflicting jurisdictions within the U.S. in taking up the fight against arms trafficking. Sen. Rosario Green (PRI) recommended U.S. and Mexican parliamentary representatives create an informal working group to exchange notes and views over the course of the year on cooperation in the context of the Merida Initiative. She wanted both sides to reflect on how cooperation would evolve after the Merida Initiative was set to expire in three years. Sen. Dodd and Rep. Pastor welcomed Green,s recommendation on creating a working group and said they would investigate what needed to be done to make it happen. Shared Hopes for Progress in Immigration Reform ¶4. (U)Mexican delegates expressed much concern about the treatment of Mexicans leaving and working in the U.S., particularly in connection to the separation of families due to the deportation of undocumented Mexican parents. They wanted the U.S. delegation to appreciate the significant contribution Mexicans made to the U.S. economy and called upon the U.S. to honor its human rights commitments in dealing with migrants. All hoped the Obama administration would produce immigration reform that went beyond merely the question of work visas. Noting the security concerns created by a lack of documentation on such large numbers of individuals, Sen. Rodolfo Dorador Perez Gavilan (PAN) insisted immigration reform was in the USG,s own interest. ¶5. (U)Rep. Zoe Lofgren informed the Mexican delegation that President Obama planned to meet with her as a leader on immigration reform along with members of the Hispanic Caucus in Congress June 17 to discuss a strategy for developing and advancing a reform bill. She was pleased the AFL-CIO had come out in support of immigration bill for the first time though with some significant caveats. The U.S. delegation conveyed general sympathy for Mexican concerns on the question of human rights. However, they urged the Mexican delegation to place greater emphasis on their own efforts to create economic opportunities in Mexico as a way to diminish the flow of migrants and suggested they note the security benefits accruing to the U.S. in connection to immigration reform. While they stressed their commitment to moving on immigration reform they wanted the Mexican delegation to understand this debate would be very contentious. The Debate Over the Government,s Role in the Economy ¶6. (SBU)A clear divide appeared within the Mexican delegation over the contribution of free trade to development and the role of the government in economic matters. Sen. Eloy Cantu (PRI) gave a presentation speaking to the benefits of free trade and the need for the U.S. and Mexico to take greater steps to lift restrictions and facilitate trade. Several other members of the Mexican delegation, however, including Raymundo Cardenas Hernandez (PRD) and PRI,s own Sen. Green took exception to his remarks with Cardenas in particular challenging his assertion that NAFTA had contributed to development in Mexico. He and others wanted to see the Government assume a more prominent role in regulating trade and promoting development suggesting, the USG,s recent interventionism indicated we were on the brink of a new developmental paradigm. ¶7. (SBU)Rep. Pastor and Reyes assumed a much more pragmatic approach stressing the need for the government to do more in the way of infrastructure development to facilitate greater commerce. Of course, they and others acknowledged the U.S. was wading in new waters with the kind of exceptional measures embraced of late to stimulate the economy and rescue the auto industry. It was premature to predict whether USG would sustain this high level of intervention in the economy. Discussion Over Energy and Environment Still Green ¶8. (U)The U.S. lead the discussion over energy and the environment speaking to the Obama administration,s commitment to tacking the related challenges aggressively both in the U.S. and in cooperation with other countries. Joint resources management was something we should be looking at sooner rather than later giving the synergies and potential for alternative fuels in both our countries. The U.S. has expertise to offer and we should start by exploring joint projects on the border. Rep. Cardenas didn,t miss an opportunity to blame the culture of &consumerism8 in the U.S. for much of the world,s environmental problems. Outside of this commentary, the Mexican side offered little of substance on this subject. ¶9. (SBU) Comment: Discussions between the two sides was generally positive and constructive. Both the U.S. and Mexico clearly appreciated the importance of cooperation in combating organized crime and would like to see more down to deepen exchanges of information on efforts. Taking in the Obama administration,s commitment to immigration reform, the Mexican delegation hoped to see movement on this issue in the near future. The session on trade exposed the widening debate over the proper role of the government in promoting development. The exchange over energy and environment suggested both sides need to do more to elaborate ways we can deepen cooperation in an area they offers so many challenges and opportunities. 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 / WILLIARD