MEXICO ON NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION AND DISARMAMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 002677

SIPDIS

FOR DEPARTMENT ISN/MNSA, GENEVA (CD),AND UNVIE (IAEA)
ALSO FOR USUN (POL),USNATO (POL),AND USEU (POL)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019
TAGS: AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL UNGA
IAEA, NPT, MX
SUBJECT: MEXICO ON NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION AND DISARMAMENT
ISSUES

REF: A. STATE 068590

B. MEXICO 0724

C. MEXICO 2442

Classified By: PolMinCouns Gustavo Delgado. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Poloff discussed Government of Mexico (GOM) views on
the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),the Comprehensive
Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT),negotiation of a Fissile
Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT),and U.S.-Russian arms control
efforts (ref. A) with Julian Juarez Cadenas, Deputy Director
General for UN-Related Security and Legal Issues at the
Foreign Relations Secretariat (SRE). Deputy Polcouns met
with him previously to solicit Mexico's views on the NPT
(ref. B). Embassy also transmitted Mexican and Post contacts
for NPT-related issues (ref. C).

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)


2. (C) In addition to information on Mexico's views on and
objectives for NPT provided in ref. A, Juarez emphasized that
the GOM hopes states will address the three pillars of NPT --
nonproliferation, disarmament, and peaceful uses of nuclear
energy -- equally in the 2010 NPT Review Conference (RevCon)
in May 2010 in New York. He noted the U.K.'s recent proposal
of a fourth pillar -- security of installations -- but
stressed the other three should not be neglected, especially
disarmament commitments. Juarez also said that Article 10 of
the treaty should be strengthened to prevent countries from
leaving the treaty without fulfilling their obligations.
Mexico respects the rights of Parties to withdraw from the
treaty but believes that sanctions should be included in
Article 10 if they do not comply with established procedures.
He referred to the importance of inspections in Iran by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)


3. (C) Juarez noted that, of the 44 signatory states to the
CTBT, nine have not ratified the treaty, including the U.S.
Recalling that President Clinton signed the agreement, Juarez
expressed relief that the Bush Administration was
unsuccessful in rescinding its signature and hoped that the
U.S. Senate now would ratify the treaty. He believes that
this would encourage others to ratify it, including Israel,
India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Egypt, not to mention China,
Iran and North Korea.

UNGA First (Disarmament) Committee


4. (C) Juarez explained that, since 2000, Mexico has been
part of the "New Agenda Coalition" consisting of Mexico,
Brazil, Ireland, Egypt, New Zealand, Sweden and South Africa
charged with coordinating policy positions on nuclear
disarmament within the First Committee. He noted that the
GOM held the closest positions to these countries, with the
exception of Egypt and South Africa. He said the group
believes more emphasis needs to be placed on disarmament, not
just nonproliferation.

Conference on Disarmament (CD)


5. (C) Juarez noted that Mexico was part of the group of 21,
which now consists of 25 countries, in the CD to coordinate
policy positions. He was critical of a 12-year delay in the
work of the CD, indicating that within the group of 21,
Pakistan was most responsible. He also cited China as being
responsible for the delays. Both countries continue to
request more time before disarmament initiatives are
discussed and implemented.

Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT)


6. (C) Juarez said that Mexico supports negotiation of the
FMCT. He noted that the U.S. believes in simply cutting off
production, whereas Mexico preferred an end to production and
destruction of existing material. Notwithstanding this
difference in opinion, Mexico would enter negotiations
without pre-conditions. He said that the resulting treaty
should be legally compatible and verifiable.

U.S.-Russian Arms Control

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7. (C) Juarez is pleased that there seemed to be the
political will on both sides to get a new arms control
agreement between the U.S. and Russia before START expires in
December. He said that it was important to avoid a period in
which no agreement existed. He believes that a new agreement
will provide security for both countries and a strong signal
that the U.S. and Russia are committed to nuclear arms
reductions. Juarez also hopes that the U.S. and Russia
engage in other areas of disarmament.

GOM Policymaking Process


8. (C) Juarez said that SRE is the lead agency in the
policymaking process for nuclear nonproliferation and arms
control. Because Mexico does not have any nuclear weapons,
the Mexican military does not take a lead role, but SRE
consults with the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA) and
the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) on matters pertaining to
nonproliferation and disarmament. The Secretariat of Energy
(SENER),the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and the
National Commission on Nuclear Safety and Safeguards (CNSNS)
are involved on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, such as
Laguna Verde in the State of Veracruz, Mexico's only nuclear
power plant. He said that the Health Secretariat provides
advice on questions of biological weapons. SRE also consults
with GOM's interagency coordinating body on disarmament,
nonproliferation and terrorism led by the National
Intelligence Directorate (CISEN) on questions related to
joining other nuclear nonproliferation and arms control
organizations. SRE liases with CISEN on questions of illicit
arms trafficking. The Office of the Attorney General (PGR)
plays a role in combating small arms trafficking.

Key Factors in GOM's Policy Decisions


9. (C) Juarez reiterated Mexico's commitment to
multilateralism within the UN Security Council and
non-intervention and said that disarmament and
nonproliferation were the key factors in Mexico's decision
making process. The goal is to prevent threats to its
national territory, including those emanating from
international disputes and regional conflicts.

Nuclear Power Industry, Academia and NGOs


10. (SBU) Juarez noted that there are no NGOs in Mexico
involved on disarmament issues except for Oxfam, which
addresses combating small arms trafficking. He said that
NGOs will have the opportunity, however, to learn more about
the subject in the 62nd Conference of the UN's Department of
Public Information and the Committee of NGOs being held in
Mexico September 9-11. The GOM consults with academic
specialists on an ad hoc basis on the subject. He noted no
nuclear power industry except for the Laguna Verde nuclear
power plant.


11. (SBU) Comment: Juarez expressed again his appreciation
for the chance to provide GOM views on the subject of nuclear
disarmament and nonproliferation. He would welcome the USG
reaction so far to inquiries made to the GOM and other
countries in preparation for Revcon. End Comment.

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