MEXICO KEEN ON WMD NON-PROLIFERATION PROGRAM

C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 002620 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2028 TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR UN MX SUBJECT: MEXICO KEEN ON WMD NON-PROLIFERATION PROGRAM Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Gustavo Delgado. Reason: 1 .4 (b),(d). ¶1. Summary. Personnel from LEGAT headquarters' Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Directorate met with representatives from CISEN on August 28 to discuss the GoM approach to WMD non-proliferation. This meeting is a continuation of several gatherings between CISEN and members of the WMD Directorate, the last of which took place in Washington earlier this year. Mexico is currently in the process of developing a WMD program and expressed its eagerness to hear from USG experts about their non-proliferation tactics, methods of national coordination and response, and outreach and information sharing. During this meeting, LEGAT set forth the USG non-proliferation model and a proposal for an agency-wide training calendar for GoM officials, including representatives from CISEN (Center for Research and National Security),SSP (Secretariat of Public Security),SEDENA (Army and Air Force),SEMAR (Navy),SEGOB (Secretariat of the Interior),Customs, the PGR (Attorney General's Office),and SS (Health Secretariat). The GoM is currently reviewing the training proposal to decide which parts it will accept. Based on Mexico's eagerness to hear more about the USG WMD program, Post is optimistic that the GoM will accept most, if not all, of the proposal and that training will begin in late October. End Summary. Mexico and WMDs ¶2. The porous U.S.-Mexico border and illegal arms trade problem makes the development of an efficient and effective Mexican WMD non-proliferation program a priority for U.S. national security interests. President Calderon's Administration has demonstrated its commitment to address national security concerns, including the threat of WMD proliferation and illegal arms trafficking. Mexico continues to make steady progress in the area of counterterrorism, with an emphasis on collaboration with the USG on border security projects targeting the smuggling of aliens who raise terrorism concerns. Continuing these efforts, the GoM is ready to launch a WMD non-proliferation program in Mexico. FBI Proposes WMD Program to CISEN ¶3. Members of the FBI's WMD Directorate came to Mexico to meet with representatives from CISEN who have expressed interest in learning more about the USG's approach to WMD non-proliferation. By working with FBI Headquarters, field offices, other government agencies, industry, academia, and strategic foreign partners, the WMD Directorate employs an integrated strategy of analysis and investigation to identify and disrupt WMD operations and threats. During the meeting, the WMD Directorate presented the USG WMD model which promotes countermeasures, improved preparedness, and intelligence analysis. ¶4. The WMD Directorate hopes to help the GoM coordinate a training calendar to include various Mexican agencies such as CISEN, SSP, SEDENA, Customs, the PGR, and SS. The participants also discussed the possibility of specialized training sessions for senior level officials of each represented agency. The proposal envisions the training of 200 individuals from the above-mentioned agencies. The training will be divided into four modules, each containing 50 individuals. The projected start date is October 23, 2009, with one module taking place every three months thereafter. The final module will take place in late July ¶2010. ¶5. CISEN will host a WMD conference in Cancun this November to discuss the importance of non-proliferation and developing national security strategies. CISEN has asked that LEGAT identify guest speakers for the conference. ¶6. Comment. The GoM appears ready to adopt a WMD non-proliferation program. CISEN is currently reviewing the proposal presented by the FBI WMD Directorate, and Post is optimistic that Mexico will adopt a WMD program akin to the U.S. non-proliferation model. If the training schedule is accepted, the FBI WMD Directorate will begin training Mexican government officials on October 23, 2009. End Comment. 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 / PASCUAL