MEXICO: VISIT OF A/S VALENZUELA (DEC 06-08)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MEXICO 003501 PLEASE CANCEL THIS ENTIRE CABLE (ZFR IMI ZFR),WITH THE MRN AND ALL ASSOCIATED MCNS. SIPDIS NSC FOR SENIOR DIRECTOR RESTREPO; DEPT FOR WHA DAS JACOBSON, MEX DIRECTOR LEE, D STAFF CUE, AND INR HOHMAN. E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/08/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MX SUBJECT: MEXICO: VISIT OF A/S VALENZUELA (DEC 06-08) MEXICO 00003501 001.4 OF 002 Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Gustavo Delgado. Reason: 1.4 (b),(d). ¶1. (C) Summary: During his two day visit to Mexico (Dec 6-8), A/S Arturo Valenzuela met with senior Mexican officials including key counterparts from the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, Governance, Federal Police and several key economic minstries. A visit to several Federal Police installations, a meeting with SSP Director Genaro Garcia Luna and a separate conversation with Minister of Governance Gomez Mont (SEGOB), provided insights into how our Merida assistance is helping Mexico address problems with organized crime and drug trafficking and revealed insights into some of the political pressures preoccupying the Calderon administration. The session at the Foreign Ministry opened up a discussion on how Mexico could provide regional leadership on Honduras and other issues, and an out of the box exchange on ways to use the 2010 Mexican bicentenial celebration to push forward on border modernization and some of the other expanded Merida themes we are currently working on together. A round table with key policy makers on trade and competitiveness at the Los Pinos Presidential compound began with a review of some perennial commercial complaints and trade disputes but quickly evolved into a more constructive exchange on ways to make our cooperation on these issues more productive. ¶2. (C) A public outreach event focused on civil society efforts to build a national consensus against violence; a press event provided an exchange with leading journalists; and a Wilson Center/Mexican institute dinner brought together influential political players and think tankers for a give and take on the state of our bilateral relations and the larger theme of political change in Mexico. Throughout the visit, there were signs of a political class cognizant of the need for internal change in order to address modern threats and exploit new opportunities but uncertain how to effect it and a reminder of the need to ensure that all major political forces be included in our ongoing efforts to deepen our relationship and expand the avenues of cooperation with our neighbors to the south. End Summary -------------- -------------- SSP visit/discussion with garcia luna/security discussions/gomez mont -------------- -------------- (#) -------------- Foreign Ministry: Honduras and Bicentennial -------------- (#) -------------- Los Pinos Trade and Competition -------------- (#) -------------- Outreach Event with Civic Participation at BFL -------------- (#) -------------- Discussions with Politicians - dinner/Wilson Center/Gomez Montt -------------- (#) -------------- 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 / MEXICO 00003501 002.3 OF 002 PASCUAL