CDA'S MEETING WITH MEXICO STATE GOVERNOR ENRIQUE

223036 2009-08-31 19:39:00 09MEXICO2579 Embassy Mexico CONFIDENTIAL VZCZCXRO5454 RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM DE RUEHME #2579 2431939 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 311939Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8084 INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHMFISS/HQ USNORTHCOM RUEAHLA/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MX C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 002579 SENSITIVE SIPDIS INR FOR HOHMANN. E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MX SUBJECT: CDA'S MEETING WITH MEXICO STATE GOVERNOR ENRIQUE PENA NIETO Classified By: Confidential by Political Minister Counselor Gustavo Delgado. Reason: 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) CDA met on August 21 with Mexico State Governor Enrique Pena Nieto, from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI),who is clearly looking for greater interaction between his administration and the United States. The meeting, which followed a visa appointment for his two children, came just after a request by the Governor's International Relations Coordinator, Arnulfo Valdivia Machuca, for the USG to provide assistance on security matters. Valdivia Machuca asked on behalf of its Attorney General's Office and State Security Agency for the development of an international cooperation program in security and justice that would include exchanges of information, technologies, and investigative training and assistance. ¶2. (C) Pena Nieto noted his concern that Mexico has yet to find an appropriate recipe for effectively dealing with the country's security challenges. He claimed that the new composition of Mexican politics, particularly in Mexico State where the PRI won big in the July 5 midterm and state elections, will help to drive solutions to the security problem. He also said he hoped to move forward on implementation of a police reform project in Mexico State to create a "metropolitan police" that would be controlled at the state level and would nearly supplant the municipal police, leaving them with only basic transit authorities. The Governor commented that the Mexico State municipal police are "in chaos," but that his state police, while certainly having room for improvement, are at least "acceptable." A critical problem contributing to local police disarray is the almost complete lack of municipal taxation authority and the dismal collection capability of even those minimal taxes the cities can charge, leaving these delegations fully dependent on the state and federal government for funding transfers. In the short term, he recognized the country's difficult economic environment will be a significant restraint on strengthening municipal budgets. ¶3. (C) In that light, Pena Nieto discussed prospects for the next legislative session, noting that the PRI is carefully considering how it might collaborate with the Calderon government to address the country's economic woes, but was calculating the political costs of such cooperation, particularly if it means tax increases. He also noted the PRI's concern that it will be betrayed in any collaboration with the PAN should the PAN choose to ally itself more closely to the PRD in a bid to weaken what it sees as its more dangerous rival. ¶4. (C) Comment: Governor Pena Nieto's outreach to the Embassy and request for assistance is doubly motivated. Mexico State's continued struggle with high levels of narco-related violence undoubtedly encourage the Governor to address the problem using all available means. This leading PRI presidential contender, however, is also almost certainly trying to burnish his international credentials in the run-up to a future electoral bid. He has a very strong base of support in the PRI caucus in the lower house, is a leader among governors, and has managed Mexico State's affairs as an able administrator. He recently held a private meeting with President Calderon and will continue to be a power player in Mexican politics. ¶5. (C) Pena Nieto speaks and understands some English. His daughter will be attending the Overbrook Academy in Rhode Island. 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