NODEL KIRK TAKES UP SECURITY ISSUES AND VISA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 001971 SIPDIS STATE FOR H E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM SNAR KCRM SMIG CVIS MX SUBJECT: NODEL KIRK TAKES UP SECURITY ISSUES AND VISA PROGRAM DURING MEXICO VISIT Classified By: Charge John Feeley. Reason: 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL) and two staff members discussed the Merida Initiative (MI),law enforcement efforts, and human rights with President Felipe Calderon and Public Security Minister Genaro Garcia Luna during their visit to Guadalajara and Mexico City June 29-July 2, 2009. They also visited the small towns of La Luz in Michoacan and Tonatico in the State of Mexico to meet with local officials and participants about the "Abuelita" visa program. Kirk offered President Calderon several suggestions to shape discussions on the Merida Initiative and human rights topics during the POTUS visit in Guadalajara next month. Secretary Garcia Luna briefed the Congressman on law enforcement efforts in Mexico. Representative Kirk also reached agreement with the consular sections in the Embassy and the Consulate in Guadalajara on implementation of the Abuelita program. End Summary. Building a Stronger Case for the Merida Initiative ¶2. (C) In his meeting with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa July 2, Rep. Mark Steven Kirk (R-10th District IL) urged the Government of Mexico (GOM) to dedicate more time and attention to publicizing its successes. This would help convince the U.S. Congress that Mexico is winning the war against organized crime. Kirk also told Calderon that, while there is strong support for the Merida Initiative in the House of Representatives, support in the Senate is less secure. In discussing the best approach to take in addressing MI during his upcoming August meeting with President Obama in Guadalajara, Kirk maintained that the GOM would be well-advised to dedicate more attention to the promotion of human rights, including by reaching out to and working closely with Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. The Charge also encouraged the GOM to be more forthcoming with information about developments in human rights cases involving the military and law enforcement personnel as this would enable us to better deal with Merida skeptics on the Hill to ensure full delivery of appropriated funding. ¶3. (C) Calderon remarked that Mexico was essentially a victim of its success in combating organized crime. With the steady stream of arrests and seizures, the Mexican public was becoming less impressed with the government's record of achievement. Calderon affirmed his government's respect for human rights and said that he found Kirk's suggestion to work more closely with human rights NGOs helpful. ¶4. (C) In his meeting with Secretary of Public Security Genaro Garcia Luna and his advisors on July 1, Kirk outlined the current state of play in the U.S. Congress. Garcia Luna played down the role of the military in the fight against organized crime, claiming that there were fewer troops deployed now than when the Calderon administration took office. (Note: A Mexican Foreign Ministry official conceded this was patently false. End Note.) Separately, Garcia Luna asserted that crimes committed by the military were tried in civilian courts as a rule when in fact this has only occurred in one instance. Garcia Luna also provided Kirk with a detailed description of his Secretariat's plans for developing its own abilities to assume the lead on the government's law enforcement campaign against organized crime. Guess Who,s Coming to Chicago? ¶5. (SBU) Kirk also briefed Calderon on his "Abuelita" ("Grandmother") program. Kirk advised Calderon that upwards of 20,000 of his constituents in Chicago had left behind close relatives from the states of Mexico and Michoacan. Kirk was particularly sensitive to these constituents' desire to have their grandparents visit the U.S. Under this program, Kirk seeks to facilitate U.S. visa issuance to the grandparents of constituents in his district. These applicants apply as a group and thus far, according to Kirk, there has been a 100 percent return rate. Calderon applauded Kirk,s initiative in developing the program. ¶6. (U) In the course of his visit, Kirk also took the opportunity to meet with Consulate and Embassy staff to further discuss the Abuelita program and efforts to combat organized crime. He also met separately with the executive director of Mexfam A.C. Kirk was pleased with Mission Mexico,s support for the Abuelita program. ¶7. (U) Congressman Kirk did not have an opportunity to clear this message before he departed post. 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 / FEELEY