MEXICO'S VIEWS ON THE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION TREATY

C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 000724

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2028
TAGS: AORC CDG ENRG KNNP MNUC PARM PGOV PREL UNGA
IAEA, NPT, MX
SUBJECT: MEXICO'S VIEWS ON THE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION TREATY

REF: STATE 6970

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Charles V. Barclay. Reason
: 1.4 (b),(d).


1. (U) Deputy PolCouns met with Julian Juarez Cardenas, the
Deputy Director General for UN-Related Security and Legal
Issues at the Foreign Ministry, to solicit Mexico's views on
the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Juarez remarked that
this was the first time in his experience that a USG official
had ever approached him asking for the GOM's views on a
policy matter without in the same breath urging Mexico to
adopt our stance. He found the approach refreshing and read
into it a greater overarching willingness on the part of the
new administration to listen more closely to the views of
others. He also didn't pass up the opportunity to share
Mexico's views on the NPT, sharing a four page paper he had
prepared in response to the questions in reftel. He remarked
that he was still waiting on Mexico's Mission to the UN in
New York and Vienna to come in with their own comments on
these questions.

Mexico's NPT Objectives


2. (SBU) Juarez stressed the importance Mexico attached to
the "universality" of the NPT and maintained Mexico would
like to see the international community bring pressure to
bear upon Israel, Pakistan, and India to accede to the
treaty. Juarez also noted that the treaty consists of three
pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful uses of
nuclear energy. The U.S. has dedicated much time and
political capital to the cause of non-proliferation but had
not demonstrated comparable dedication to meeting its
disarmament commitments. Mexico believes it is important for
the nuclear states to undertake good faith negotiations to
reduce their nuclear arsenals in conformity with Article VI
of the NPT. To that end, he drew attention to French
President Sarkozy's recent call for a worldwide ban on
nuclear testing and a moratorium on the production of fissile
material.


3. (U) With respect to the Review Conference itself, Juarez
said that Mexico was looking to the nuclear states to honor
their commitment to the 13 practical steps towards nuclear
disarmament agreed upon at the 2000 Review Conference by
generating concrete recommendations for their implementation
at the 2010 Review Conference. Second, Mexico would also
like to see progress made toward the establishment of a
nuclear-free zone in the Middle East. Third, Mexico wanted
the nuclear powers to recognize the importance of affirming
the non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.
Juarez said that Mexico saw this affirmation as a precursor
to opening negotiations of an international instrument on
this matter.

What is Mexico Looking for from the U.S. on the NPT?


4. (SBU) As noted above, Mexico is looking for the U.S. to
place greater emphasis on disarmament and, more specifically,
on complying with the 13 steps adopted at the 2000 Review
Conference. Mexico would also like to see a renovation of
START negotiations and a greater willingness of the U.S. and
the other nuclear states to be more transparent about their
strategic nuclear weapon programs.

How Would Define Success for the Coming 2010 NPT Review
Conference?


5. (SBU) Repeating the points above, Juarez remarked that
Mexico would define success at the 2010 Review Conference to
include: 1) the recognition by the nuclear states of their
commitment to implement the 13 steps adopted in 2000; 2)
progress towards creation of a nuclear-free zone in the
Middle East; and 3) agreement by the nuclear states to
provide "negative guarantees" to the non-nuclear states
regarding the non-use of nuclear weapons against nuclear
states. Mexico would also support the adoption of measures
to prevent the proliferation of weapons and stronger
commitments by states that have nuclear programs to the
exclusive employment of these programs for peaceful ends.
Mexico would like to see the establishment of a multilateral
mechanism managing the disbursement of nuclear fuel that
would meet the requirements of the international community.
Finally, Mexico would like to see the status of North Korea's
membership resolved. As far as Mexico is concerned, North
Korea has sent mixed signals and this matter requires
clarification.


6. (U) While Mexico concedes some states have used the
requirement of consensus to block decisions, Mexico believes
decisions that win consensus inherently enjoy greater weight.
It does not support a change in how decisions are made.

Mexico's Views on Key NPT Issues


7. (C) Mexico's paper responding to our questions addressed
each one of the following points:

-- Noncompliance with the NPT, e.g. for example Iran and
North Korea. Mexico believes member states should take
actions to compel these states to comply with their
obligations to cooperate and provide information to the IAEA.
Mexico's paper specifically suggests adoption of a decision,
resolution, or declaration by which these states would agree
to cooperation and share information about their programs.

-- The prospect of Parties violating and then withdrawing
from the Treaty. Mexico respects the rights of Parties to
withdraw from the treaty but only after they have fulfilled
established procedures. For example, a state that has
received nuclear equipment or technology needs to return it.
In the case of North Korea, Mexico would like to see the
international community "convince" North Korea to reaffirm
its commitment to the NPT. Mexico looks to the six party
talks to demonstrate "flexibility" in striving for an
agreement that proves acceptable to all sides and produces
demilitarization on the Korean peninsula.

-- The lack of NPT universality. As noted prior, Mexico
believes the Review Conference should serve to foment
universality. Mexico believes the nuclear states could
advance this objective by undertaking negotiations to reduce
their armaments.

-- The lack of universality of NPT safeguards agreements and
the Additional Protocol. Mexico believes both instruments
advance verification of nuclear programs and to the extent
more states subscribe to them the international community
will face fewer proliferation risks. Mexico has not yet
ratified the Additional Protocol for internal political
reasons out of concern submission of this instrument to the
Congress for consideration could somehow get linked to energy
reform which has proven controversial.

-- The spread of enrichment and repossessing capabilities to
additional countries. While reaffirming the right of states
to develop, investigate and use nuclear energy for peaceful
ends, Mexico believes the international community needs to
develop a mechanism for the disbursement of nuclear fuel.

-- Fulfilling the Treaty's obligation for the fullest
possible international cooperation for the peaceful uses of
nuclear energy consistent with the Treaty's nonproliferation
obligations. Mexico believes all Parties should support
international cooperation in favor of the peaceful use of
nuclear energy and extend their collaboration with the IAEA
so it can ascertain the nature of their programs.

-- Fulfilling the Treaty's obligations to pursue negotiations
relating to nuclear disarmament. As noted on several
occasions, Mexico strongly believes that the nuclear states
need to take concrete steps towards disarmament starting with
the measures agreed to at the 2000 Review Conference.

-- Transparency on the part of nuclear weapon states with
regard to their nuclear weapon forces and policies. Mexico
affirms the importance of the nuclear states entering into
negotiations to advance their disarmament obligations
suggesting that the nuclear states look at agreeing to apply
simultaneously the steps adopted in 2000. To advance greater
transparency, Mexico believes the nuclear states should share
greater information about not only those weapons they have
disarmed but also those that are operational and on alert.
To this end, Mexico suggests establishing a mechanism to
promote greater transparency.


8. (C) Comment. Mexico clearly appreciated being
approached regarding its views on the NPT and did not lose
this chance to stress the importance it attached to nuclear
states doing more to meet their disarmament obligations, more
specifically with regard to the 13 steps adopted at the 2000
NPT Review Conference. Mexico is looking for the nuclear
states to do more on this front at the upcoming 2010 Review
Conference as well as on providing more guarantees to
non-nuclear states regarding the non-use of nuclear weapons
against non-nuclear states. Mexico is genuinely worried
about proliferation when it comes to nuclear renegades such
as Iran and North Korea. However, Mexico also believes more
should be done to advance the principle of university when it
comes to states like Israel, India and Pakistan. Committed
to the principles of multilateralism and non-intervention,
Mexico could offer little beyond broad-based moral suasion
wrapped up in multilateral resolutions to deal with those
states such as Iran and North Korea that aren't meeting their
commitments.
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 /
BASSETT