BORDER GOVERNORS SEEK TO INCREASE REGIONAL INTEGRATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONTERREY 000359

SIPDIS

ONDCP FOR WARD/HITTLE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECIN PGOV ECON SNAR MX
SUBJECT: BORDER GOVERNORS SEEK TO INCREASE REGIONAL INTEGRATION

REF: MONTERREY 297

MONTERREY 00000359 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary. On September 2-4, the annual Border
Governors Conference took place in Monterrey. The event, hosted
by Nuevo Leon Governor Gonzalez Paras, featured participation
from New Mexico Governor Richardson, California Governor
Schwarzenegger (via DVC),Ambassador Pascual, DHS Border Czar
Bersin, and ONDCP Director Kerlikowske, Foreign Minister
Espinoza, Mexican Ambassador Sarukhan, and the Mexican Governors
of Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Tamaulipas.
Conference discussions focused on economic, environmental, and
infrastructure issues facing all ten border states. The
highlight of the event was the approval of a Strategic Master
Plan for Competitive and Sustainable Development drawn up by the
Woodrow Wilson Center and Mexico's Colegio de la Frontera Norte.
In addition, conference delegations approved a resolution,
supported by the U.S. NGO Culture of Lawfulness (an INL
grantee),calling for a border-wide approach to rule of law
projects. End Summary.


2. (SBU) The Border Governor's Conference (BGC) is a
bi-national venue dedicated to the discussion and resolution of
border issues that impact the U.S. and Mexico. The first
conference was convened in Juarez, Chihuahua in 1980 and since
then a conference has taken place nearly every year. At
conference sessions, worktables bring together experts to study
problems and make recommendations for such issues as the
environment, education, logistics, trade, energy, agriculture,
economic development, security, health, and water. In addition,
the Governors themselves meet in executive sessions to discuss
these same topics. To avoid distraction and controversy, Nuevo
Leon organizers explicitly did not include an agenda item
dealing with `the border', as the border itself was not a
geopolitical entity.


3. (SBU) While the conference focus is on state governments,
USG agencies attending this year's September 2-4 conference in
Monterrey included State, DoD (Northcom),DHS -- CBP, DHS --
ICE, ONDCP, USDA, DHS,GSA, and FEMA. Mexican federal agencies
represented included SRE, the Secretariat of Communications and
Transportation (SCT),the National Council on Science and
Technology (CONACYT),the Secretariat of Gobernacion (SEGOB),
the National Water Commission (CONAGUA),the Secretariat of
Energy, and the Secretariat of Health. Indeed, USG participants
outnumbered all the individual U.S. state government
participants combined, as the Governors of Texas, California,
and Arizona did not appear in person, with the last two
cancelling their participation at the last minute.


4. (SBU) The Conference Chair -- Nuevo Leon Governor Jose
Natividad Gonzalez Paras -- actively sought input and
participation from U.S. federal government attendees,
particularly with respect to various projects (dealing with
logistics and border crossings, science and technology, tourism,
security, emergency and civil protection, water, energy, the
environment, and health) which fell under U.S. and Mexican
federal jurisdiction. For instance, the state of Nuevo Leon
sought to gain support for strategic development of its Colombia
crossing once the USG approved Webb County, Texas's application
for a international rail bridge permit.


5. (SBU) Pursuant to Conference procedures, each country's
state co-chair, i.e., for 2009 the state of Nuevo Leon and the
state of Arizona, was to have distributed a list and description
of these projects to its national government for interagency
review. The state of Arizona, however, did not do this prior
to the Monterrey meeting. After the conference, ConOff proposed
to Nuevo Leon state organizers that each country's co-chair
distribute relevant Conference work documents to the nearest
U.S. Consulate, which could then forward items to the U.S.
Embassy in Mexico City and to Washington. While Nuevo Leon
concurred with this approach, in order for it to carry forward
Baja California, the next Mexican co-chair, would need to agree
to the same.


6. (SBU) In his intervention, the Ambassador proposed that,
in conjunction with the Mexican Ambassador to the United States,
he organize a workshop in Mexico City to discuss with GOM
officials how to advance action on the Indicative Plan. (A
similar session was held in Mexico City during spring 2008 but
with Mexican federal government leaders.)


7. (SBU) The key achievement of the September 2-4 session was
the adoption of the Strategic Master Plan for Competitive and
Sustainable Development drawn up by the Woodrow Wilson Center
and Mexico's Colegio de la Frontera Norte. In addition,
conference delegations approved a resolution, supported by the
U.S. NGO Culture of Lawfulness (an INL grantee),calling for a
border-wide approach to rule of law projects.

MONTERREY 00000359 002.2 OF 002




8. (SBU) Comment. Given the USG's comprehensive approach
to U.S.-Mexico relations, greater attention will need to be paid
to the Border Governor's Conference. The sheer grass-roots,
political energy represented at the state level constitutes a
tremendous resource that cannot, and should not, be wasted. In
addition, leveraging state government efforts will help
Washington and Mexico City create the infrastructure and doing
business environment necessary to generated increased economic
opportunity and growth in both countries. With the next full
meeting set for summer 2009 in Arizona and the call by governors
for greater federal participation in relevant border issues, a
larger USG focus on Border Governor's Conference proceedings
could be a key element in moving forward constructive conference
proposals in a wide variety of areas.


9. (U) The Ambassador has cleared the text of this cable.
WILLIAMSON