Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MEXICO827
2009-03-20 21:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Mexico
Cable title:  

U.S.-MEXICO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON CHALLENGES FACING

Tags:  PREL UNSC PHUM MARR AF KN CG SU SO WI HA MX 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHME #0827/01 0792106
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 202106Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5710
INFO RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1078
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0330
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0310
C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 000827 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2028
TAGS: PREL UNSC PHUM MARR AF KN CG SU SO WI HA MX
SUBJECT: U.S.-MEXICO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON CHALLENGES FACING
THE UNSC -- CORRECTED COPY

REF: MEXICO 353

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Charles V. Barclay. Reason

C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 000827

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2028
TAGS: PREL UNSC PHUM MARR AF KN CG SU SO WI HA MX
SUBJECT: U.S.-MEXICO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON CHALLENGES FACING
THE UNSC -- CORRECTED COPY

REF: MEXICO 353

Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Charles V. Barclay. Reason


1. (SBU) Summary. A U.S. delegation headed by Acting
Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of International
Organizations James Warlick met March 13 with Mexico's UN
team for consultations focusing on the UN budget, challenges
facing Mexico as UNSC President in April, and human rights.
Mexico shares many of our concerns relating to the growth of
the UN budget. It appreciated hearing our views in
particular on UN Missions in Africa where Mexico's experience
is relatively limited. Mexico welcomed the prospect of
fuller U.S. participation on the UN Human Rights Council and
sought U.S. support for its candidacy to the Inter-American
Human Rights Commission -- a matter it signaled it would take
up with the Secretary when she visits Mexico next week. End
Summary.

Synergy on the Budget, Assessments


2. (SBU) Mexico's Director for Financial Matters, Carolina
Fernandez, conveyed Mexico's concerns with the spiraling
costs of the SYG's "Special Political Missions" which she
described as "out of control" and blamed for driving the UN
budget's overall increases. She also stressed the importance
Mexico attached to reducing its assessments, assuring us that
while Mexico's proposal incorporates some elements of the
EU's proposal it would not impact the U.S. ceiling. Warlick
assured Mexico that we shared its concern on the UN budget
and drew attention to the impact of how indirect costs on
voluntary contributions are calculated. Mexico discussed its
methodology for calculating scales of assessment and noted
that its proposal keeps in place a ceiling for the U.S.
Warlick remarked that Mexico's unique stature availed it an
opportunity to serve as a bridge to the G-77 on the budget
amongst other issues; Mexico agreed and signaled it was
prepared to assume that role with greater energy.

Trading Views on Candidacies


3. (SBU) Mexico sought U.S. support for the Mexican
candidate to the UN's Advisory Committee on Administrative
and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) for elections to be held in

2010. Mexico also mentioned its interest in securing a seat
on the International Civil Service Commission in 2010. In
addition, Mexico stated that it will seek the reelection of
its representative to the Committee on Contributions during
elections also in 2010. Lastly, the Director General of
Mexico's UN Office, Pablo Macedo, flagged Mexico's desire to
secure a seat on the Inter-American Human Rights Commission.
SRE's Director General for Human Rights and Democracy
Alejandro Negrin returned to this issue indicating Mexico
planned to raise this issue with the Secretary when she
visits later in the month if Mexico has not secured U.S.
support by then support by then.


4. (C) Warlick flagged our concern about Mexico's putting
forward a candidate for the WHO's Executive Board which put
it out of step with the traditional three years in/one year
out approach of the U.S. If Mexico withdrew its candidate
for the upcoming election we could pledge our support for
Mexico's candidate in the next election. Macedo agreed
Mexico's decision to vie for this seat in an off year
violated past practice. Apparently, Mexico's Health
Secretariat has the GOM lead on this matter. Nevertheless,
Macedo signaled his office's desire to "correct" this
situation by convincing the Health Secretariat that Mexico
should withdraw its candidate.


5. (C) Both sides agreed that Egypt's candidate to UNESCO
was unacceptable. Macedo said that Egypt's Ambassador
visited him practically every week seeking the GoM's support
for its candidate. Mexico's Ministry of Education has the
lead on this decision but Macedo assured us that Mexico would
like to support another candidate. He conveyed reservations
about the current Brazilian UNESCO Deputy as a possible
candidate. Mexico thought it was still premature to look to
Peru to offer formally its candidate but that ultimately its
person may prove a way forward. Macedo also said that
Bulgarian candidate Bokovo had made a good impression on her
recent visit to Mexico.

Visiting UN Work in Africa


6. (C) Mexico had originally requested these consultations
with us out of a desire to focus on the UN's work in Africa
in advance of Mexico's assumption of the UNSC Presidency in
April. We touched on the following issues:


-- Western Sahara: Warlick advised Mexico's UNSC team that
the SYG's Envoy to the Western Sahara Christopher Ross did
not believe a new round of talks would be especially useful
at this juncture. Rather, he hoped to organize a small
informal discussion without preconditions in a neutral
location. Noting MINURSO's mandate would come up for renewal
in April, Warlick remarked that we shared Ross' desire for as
few changes as possible in the mandate. Macedo agreed that a
fresh start in discussions represented a good approach.

-- Sudan/Darfur: Warlick stressed the importance of UNSC
unity in the face of Sudan's defiance of the ICC's decision
to issue a warrant for al-Bashir's arrest. Macedo conveyed
Mexico's commitment to respect for the ICC's decision. He
remarked, however, that some African countries were
threatening to withdraw from the ICC if its arrest warrant
were enforced over Sudan's objections. He mentioned that he
had heard Egypt was talking about convening a meeting to
discuss the issue.

-- DRC: Warlick conveyed our concern over Kabila's decision
that Indian peacekeepers were no longer needed. Their
departure would create a significant vacuum there. He
suggested Mexico might consider providing trainers and
advisors to MONUC. Macedo described Mexico's desire to
participate in PKOs but maintained the timing was not right
for Mexico to do so now given internal political
considerations including, but not limited to, the
government's rather expansive efforts to tackle organized
crime elements. Ultimately, if Mexico were to make a
contribution to PKOs in the future, offering police elements
as opposed to the military to activities closer to home like
Haiti instead of Africa might prove more feasible.

-- Somalia: The Mexican side welcomed more insight into what
the U.S. envisioned in terms of a UN role in Somalia.
Warlick stressed the humanitarian issues driving our desire
to see a UN mission created there.

What's Coming on Haiti, Afghanistan, and North Korea?


7. (C) With time running short, the two sides tackled
Haiti, Afghanistan, and North Korea.
-- Haiti: In view of its lead for the UNSC on MINUSTAH,
Mexico was keen to hear our views on the way ahead for the UN
in Haiti. Given the recent visit by UNSC Permreps to Haiti
and donor conferences on Haiti, it had every expectation
Haiti would be on the UNSC's agenda in April. Warlick
suggested we listen to what our Ambassadors had to offer on
their return from Haiti. The international community
probably only had a couple of years to get things right in
Haiti so Mexico was well advised to focus on the work that we
needed to take up on a priority basis. The Mexicans mentioned
their interest in a possible Security Council ministerial in
late April and noted that they hoped Secretary Clinton would
consider attending.

-- Afghanistan: Mexico advised that its Federal Election
Institute (IFE) had just produced a paper laying out a menu
of options for providing assistance to Afghanistan on
upcoming elections. Mexico's contribution could prove
difficult given time was short and Mexico had its own
elections to organize in July. Nevertheless, Mexico
indicated it would be coming back to us on what it might
possibly be able to offer in support of Afghan elections
presently scheduled for August.

-- North Korea: Warlick reminded the Mexicans that the North
Koreans plan to launch a "satellite" the first week of April
and that this would represent a violation of its obligations
under UNSC resolution 1718. Japan has already indicated it
will request the UNSC convene to discuss this development.
Macedo expressed appreciation for the heads up and suggested
Mexico would be in contact with us on how to deal with this
matter.

Mexico Welcomes U.S. Movement on Human Rights in the UN


8. (SBU) Warlick reinforced the U.S. desire to reengage as
an observer with the UN's Human Rights Council. We believe
that the international community needs a place where we can
talk seriously about human rights, including in connection to
specific countries. Opportunities exist to set a new tone on
human rights issues and we would like to work with Mexico to
explore these opportunities in a new spirit. The U.S. sent a
delegation to explore the prospects for reengaging on the
Durban document but there was not the political will to work
closely with the U.S. on necessary changes. Mexico and the

U.S. have had their differences on Mexico's resolution on
human rights and terrorism. We believe it is possible to
overcome those differences through closer coordination and a
deeper spirit of compromise.


9. (C) Negrin insisted on the importance Mexico attaches to
the U.S. participation on the UN Human Rights Council given
the U.S.'s historical leadership on human rights issues. He
defended Mexico's record on human rights in the context of
the recent Universal Periodic Review before the UNHRC and
maintained Mexico had created a mechanism to follow-up on the
recommendations that had been issued. He indicated that he
was well-versed in the issues attending Mexico's resolution
on human rights and terrorism and signaled his predisposition
to work through those issues more amiably in the future.

U.S. Provides Brief on Sanctions


10. (SBU) Mexico, since January, has chaired the Somalia
and Cote d'Ivoire Sanctions Committees. Its delegation was
keen to discuss sanctions matters generally, the 1267
sanctions regime on al-Qaeda and the Taliban as well as
specific issues facing the two committees it chairs. It
welcomed U.S. views on due process issues for all sanctions
regimes in view of recent European court decisions and took
on board a briefing on the U.S. designations process. USDEL
encouraged Mexico to work on developing guidelines for the
Somalia sanctions committee and described how important the
U.S. views the Cote d'Ivoire sanctions regime as a means for
pressing all parties in that country to hold free and fair
elections.


11. (C) Comment. Mexico clearly appreciated the opportunity
this visit presented to learn our views on a whole host of
issues, including UN activities in Africa where Mexico's
experience is relatively thin. Mexico has signaled a desire
to coordinate with us closely on some of the more complicated
issues it likely will have to tackle in April when it assumes
the UNSC presidency. No doubt, we may sometimes approach
issues from a different perspective. Nevertheless, it is
evident Mexico is committed to performing responsibly and
wants to keep disagreements with us to a minimum. To the
extent we can remain in close coordination with Mexico,
demonstrate respect for its views, and offer it a fuller
appreciation of our approach on key issues, we can look to
Mexico to serve an effective bridge for us with Latin America
and other parts of the developing world.


12. (U) This cable was cleared with A/S Warlick.
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