Cablegate: Mexico Takes On Board U.S. Views On Pdg Programs,

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RR RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #0267 0311529
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311529Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0313
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0041
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0201

UNCLAS MEXICO 000267

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

WHA/PPA FOR JENNA BEN-YEHUDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KDEM PGOV PHUM POL PREL WHA IZ MX
SUBJECT: MEXICO TAKES ON BOARD U.S. VIEWS ON PDG PROGRAMS,
IRAQ ELECTION SUPPORT

REF: A. STATE 9223

B. MEXICO 151

1. Deputy PolCouns delivered reftel A points to Lorena
Larios, Deputy Director of the Foreign Ministry's (SRE)
Office of International Policy on Human Rights, conveying
appreciation for GOM interest in the PDG and calling
attention to the importance the PDG attached to projects that
aim to improve government services and promote greater
transparency on budgets and procurement. Larios took on
board points but signaled Mexico may still seek to pitch
assistance on elections with other PDG partners at the
upcoming Paris meeting.

2. Deputy PolCouns conveyed appreciation for Mexico's
interest in providing electoral assistance to Iraq but noted
Iraq had not requested such assistance from the PDG. As Iraq
prepares for elections over the next two years, we would
advise Mexico of opportunities to provide assistance on
elections as they became available.

3. As of 1/30, Mexico had still not identified who would
head its delegation to the PDG meeting scheduled for 2/13.
Larios welcomed the invitation to the small group meeting the
morning of 2/13 at the USOECD Mission to discuss Chile's
candidacy as PDG Vice-Chair. She wondered aloud though why
Mexico had not been considered a candidate. Deputy PolCouns
advised that Chile had apparently volunteered and the U.S.
was responding positively to that offer.

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 /
GARZA

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