DEGON TROLLED U N C LAS SMED SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED W3 RELEASED IN FULL The Deputy Secretary's Meeting with Mexican Attorney General Medina Mora CONTEXT The announcement of a security cooperation package to support Mexico's efforts to modernize its judicial and law enforcement systems heralds a transformational moment in U S Mexico relations Medina Mora has been central to President Calderon's efforts to confront the narco-cartels by establishing the effective power of the Mexican government in areas where the cartels now operate relatively freely Pending judicial reform legislation would fundamentally change the criminal justice system by beginning a transition to an oral accusatory system of trials Proposed police reforms at the federal level are intended to create a body that gains the confidence of the average Mexican Other problems of impunity have directly affected U S citizens as symbolized by the death of freelance journalist Brad Will in Oaxaca a year ago Recently Medina Mora has publicly criticized our proposed support-package as pursuing our interests only Seek Medina Mora's advice on the way forward in transforming and modernizing the U S -Mexico relationship and thank him for his engagement to date KEY OBJECTIVES • Transforming the Security Relationship Urge Medina Mora to use additional resources to re-shape the security relationship between United States and Mexican security agencies Medina Mora's statements and actions indicate that he understands that Mexico needs to work with its neighbors to face current threats As former head of the Center for Investigation and National Security he fully appreciates the need to collect analyze and gather information in confronting modern criminal threats but there is a need to strengthen our ability to share the information between U S and Mexican government agencies As a leading member of Calderon's security cabinet Medina Mora is well-placed to press the GOM to enter a maritime agreement with us this would enhance our ability to interdict suspected narcotics traffickers on the high seas • Judicial Reform Offer Medina Mora continued and enhanced USG support to achieve substantial reform of the Mexican judicial system The Calderon Administration has presented the Mexican Congress a package of judicial reforms'that we believe will significantly strengthen their ability to UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY ADOLPH H EISNWNSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED DATE CASE ID 31 MAR 2011 20080452 bECONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED DEC ONTROLLED UNCLA S S IFIED SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED confront crime You should tell Medina Mora that we support these efforts and_ that a substantial part of the security cooperation package is devoted to advancing rule of law and judicial reform You might also ask Medina Mora for his assessment of the GOM's plans to create a national police force under Public Security Secretary Garcia Luna including how the GOM intends to avoid the problems of corruption and alleged human rights violations that have derailed previous reform efforts IF TIME PERMITSAF RAISED 1 Human Rights Cases Urge Medina Mora to focus prosecutors' attention on high profile cases to demonstrate an attack on impunity Despite the advances and reforms of recent years many people including in the U S Congress continue to see a Mexico of brutal police and complicit prosecutors Meaningful public progress in the investigations of the Brad Will killing and federal investigations of the guns confiscated from the state police headquarters during Oaxaca protests would help to dispel that view Similarly effective prosecutions in some of the murders of women in Juarez would help DECONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED DECONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED SENSITNE BUT UNCLASSIFIED SEARAMEX D Trip Oct 2007 BCLsBCL 13 Medina Mora Drafted WHA MEX Ian Brownlee 78113 Approved WHA TShannon Cleared WHA RJacobson ok WHA MEX JDickson ok D MSConaway ok P AMeltzer ok S P WMcihenny ok INL CEchverria ok F MTolliver ok DRL AWH JMuno ok I SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED DECONTROLLED UNCLASSIFIED I