Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 06MEXICO620, MEXICO/CENTAM ENERGY - MEXICANS MOVE ON ENERGY

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06MEXICO620.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06MEXICO620 2006-02-03 21:36 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Mexico
VZCZCXRO5909
PP RUEHCD RUEHGD RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHRD RUEHRS RUEHTM
DE RUEHME #0620/01 0342136
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 032136Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8737
INFO RUEHXC/ALL US CONSULATES IN MEXICO COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBE/AMEMBASSY BELIZE PRIORITY 1368
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 3610
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1155
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA PRIORITY 3406
RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA PRIORITY 0884
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA PRIORITY 2081
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 1455
RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR PRIORITY 2277
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO PRIORITY 0675
RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA PRIORITY 1537
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 MEXICO 000620 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR EB/ESC, WHA/EPSC, AND WHA/MEX 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/NAFTA ARUDMAN AND ITA/ENERGY DIVISION 
TREASURY FOR IA MEXICO DESK 
ENERGY FOR KDEUTSCH AND SLADISLAW 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG MX PGOV PREL
SUBJECT: MEXICO/CENTAM ENERGY - MEXICANS MOVE ON ENERGY 
INITIATIVE 
 
REF: A. MEXICO 374 
 
     B. SECSTATE 11181 
     C. 05 MEXICO 6895 
     D. 05 MEXICO 7368 
     E. 05 MEXICO 7466 
     F. 05 MEXICO 7533 
 
Sensitive but Unclassified, entire text. 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1.  (SBU) To avoid the appearance that the U.S. is pulling 
the strings behind the Mesoamerican Energy Integration Plan 
(PIEM), Mexican Energy Undersecretary Hector Moreira will not 
send a team to brief U.S. officials until he has the cover of 
the proposed Binational Commission (BNC) in Washington. 
Nonetheless, Foreign Secretary Derbez will send his Assistant 
Secretary for Economic Affairs, Irma Gomez to Washington next 
 
SIPDIS 
week to provide a more general political-level briefing. 
Meanwhile, the Central American PIEM participants have 
approved a "Terms of Reference" document for initial studies 
on the planned refinery.  The IDB has provided Mexico with a 
first draft of a similar document for a proposed gas pipeline 
linking Colombia and Mexico (copies e-mailed to Washington 
agencies).  PIEM participants have also agreed on a first 
list of projects on energy efficiency and have discussed ways 
to cooperate on renewables.  While the GOM is interested in 
our help with the PIEM, they suggest we channel specific 
offers of cooperation through the IDB.  End Summary. 
 
Mexican Team Won't Come to Washington in February... 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
2.  (SBU) Emincouns and Econoff met Mexican Undersecretary 
for Hydrocarbons Hector Moreira Wednesday, January 25 to 
discuss the state of play in the PIEM and to follow-up 
questions outlined in ref B.  Joining Moreira were 
Secretariat of Energy (SENER) Director General for 
 
SIPDIS 
International Affairs Salvador Beltran Del Rio and SRE 
Director General for Economic Bilateral Relations, Luis 
Landa.  Moreira opened by reiterating the message we received 
from SRE Unit Head Gomez (ref A) that Energy Secretary 
Canales would attend the upcoming Binational Commission and 
meet with Secretary Bodman, though he wondered whether the 
new Canadian minister would be able to attend to allow 
coverage of SPP goals.  Nonetheless, he would not travel to 
the U.S during February to brief on the Central American 
energy plan.  He explained that the PIEM initiative remained 
in a nascent state and that press coverage that might arise 
over meetings with U.S. officials on the details of the 
project before it was more thoroughly defined could kill it 
before it got off the ground.  He added that the PIEM needed 
to be seen as a Mexican project.   He dismissed even an 
expert level visit during February for the same reason.  As 
alternatives, Landa noted that SRE Unit Head (Assistant 
Secretary equivalent) Irma Gomez would be traveling to 
 
SIPDIS 
Washington the week of February 6 and her diplomatic role 
would enable her to raise the topic without raising undue 
press concerns.  Moreira added that he could foresee leading 
a team that would accompany or advance a Canales BNC 
delegation by a few days to meet with Washington agencies on 
the PIEM.  He believed that the BNC would provide appropriate 
"justification" for a visit. 
 
 
...But, SRE Official Will Visit Washington Next Week 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
3.  (SBU) To preview her visit to the U.S., econoff met 
separately February 3 with Luis Landa who reviewed Gomez's 
 
MEXICO 00000620  002 OF 005 
 
 
talking points for Washington officials.  While Gomez would 
not be able to discuss technical aspects of the proposal, she 
could review the project's rationale.   Despite earlier 
comments from SENER officials (ref C) that the primary 
purpose of the PIEM was to assure an outlet for Mexican 
crude, Landa countered that impetus for the plan came from 
Mexican opposition to Chavez, who he described in very 
un-diplomatic terms.  Central America's dependence on 
Venezuelan oil had to be reduced.  Moreira too had called 
Petrocaribe "unsustainable."  Chavez was making too many 
promises he could not keep, and sooner or later countries 
would see he could not be relied on.  The Central American 
market was small enough that a single refinery could supply 
it.  When President Fox raised the issue at Mar de Plata, the 
primary purpose for the project had morphed to that of 
reducing the regions dependence on refined product imports. 
 
4.  (SBU) While building a refinery had been the initial 
response to the regions energy woes, questions remained. 
What were the supply security implications of a single source 
of fuel for the entire region?  The market within the region 
was balkanized with "important people" controlling 
importation of refined products in many of the Central 
American states.  Could the countries be made to create a 
regional gasoline market despite those vested interests? 
Harmonized standards, Landa argued, would be essential for 
the region to take advantage of the refinery's economies of 
scale.  Without agreement to modify regulatory frameworks, 
the project would die. 
 
Refinery Project Status 
----------------------- 
 
5.  (SBU) Landa quickly reviewed the January 13, 2006 draft 
of the IDB's terms of reference (copies e-mailed to 
Washington agencies).  The terms of reference are 
instructions from the IDB to the firm that will eventually be 
selected to conduct the initial studies of the project 
(reftels).  According to this draft, the first phase of work 
will include: 
 
-- market studies for refined product in the region 
-- studies to determine the necessity of additional capacity 
in the region. 
-- a recommendation on a site for the proposed refinery. 
-- an outline the process flow including determination of 
inputs and outputs, as well as technology to be employed, and 
-- a simplified business model. 
 
6. (SBU)  According to Landa, the consulting firm, to be 
chosen in February, is scheduled to begin work March 1. 
Central American countries would hold at least one interim 
meeting April 24 to receive a progress report on the 
consulting firm's findings.  Experts would meet again to 
review final results of the first phase of the consulting 
firm's work May 21 and to develop a presentation to leaders 
who will meet May 31 in Santo Domingo.  If the May meeting 
results in a decision to go ahead with the project, leaders 
would sign a second document that would bind them to continue 
with it.  While Landa did not outline all of the details of 
this proposed document, he noted that it would include a 
commitment to undertake the necessary political reforms that 
would create a harmonized market. 
 
7.  (SBU) Moreira reported that the technical committee of 
PIEM participants met January 23 and quickly approved the 
draft Terms of Reference document described in para 5. 
Despite earlier reports from Moreira's staff as on dissent 
among the participants vying for the project, he said the 
document was approved almost without debate. 
 
 
MEXICO 00000620  003 OF 005 
 
 
DOE Refinery Questions 
---------------------- 
 
8.  (SBU) We also reviewed the questions from reftel paper 
with Moreira.  While, many of the ultimate responses to the 
questions will depend on the outcome of the consultant's work 
outlined in para 4, Moreira, a former UNAM Petroleum 
Engineering Professor, is the conceptual father of the 
refinery project.  His responses follow each of the 
questions: 
 
-- Will the refinery operator contract be a build-operate-own 
(BOO) or build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract? It is unclear 
if the public, multi-country-owned energy company will own 
the refinery or if the private entity will own the refinery. 
 
It is premature to define the nature of the refinery operator 
contract (BOO versus BOT).  As outlined in the original 
Mexican presentation, the initial plan called for the 
refinery to be built, owned and managed by an experienced 
multinational energy company. 
 
-- How will the brokering company for the refinery be funded 
and managed? 
 
The brokering company would be funded through capital 
contributions from each of the participating countries. 
While management of the company had not been outlined in 
detail, staff would come from the participating countries, as 
well. 
 
-- Why does there need to be a public company created, adding 
debt to the countries involved when a private company could 
take on this project and generate revenue for the nations 
involved? 
 
The initial paid in capital for the brokering company would 
be relatively small, approximately USD 100 million.  Divided 
among all of the participating countries, the capital 
required for the brokering enterprise would not be 
significant expenditure.   Moreira added that the refinery 
would only be viable if it could take advantage of economies 
of scale at production levels of 250 thousand barrels per 
year.  An investment in the brokering company would keep 
participating states tied to product from the refinery.  It 
would also ensure that windfalls from high refining margins 
or high crude prices would accrue to the participating 
governments to be used to meet development goals, rather than 
to leave the region. 
 
-- What is the nature and purpose of the tax on imported 
petroleum products produced outside this plan? 
 
The tax on imported petroleum products would help to maintain 
gasoline quality standards in the region.  Moreira explained 
that there is now no standard for sulfur content for 
gasolines sold in Central America.  Furthermore, consumers in 
the region are not sophisticated enough to discern the 
difference.  As an environmental measure, the proposed 
refinery would produce low sulfur fuels that could easily be 
undercut by cheaper higher sulfur product imported into the 
region.  The proposed tax would apply to fuels that do not 
meet a specified sulfur content imported into the region. 
 
-- How will product from the refinery be distributed given 
the lack of existing infrastructure? 
 
This will be determined from the IBD study described in the 
"Terms of Reference". 
 
-- Will there be restrictions on other companies importing 
 
MEXICO 00000620  004 OF 005 
 
 
gasoline or other finished products into the region? 
 
As currently envisioned, there will be no restrictions, 
though the participating nations or entities within the 
nations will have to execute long term purchase contracts for 
fuels produced by the refinery. 
 
-- How will the plan allow for competition? 
 
Except as noted above, the refinery will operate in an open 
market. 
 
-- Can Mexico afford to supply the refinery in light of their 
declining oil production concerns? 
 
Moreira, and others to whom we have spoken at SENER and Pemex 
have been unequivocal in their statements that current plans 
call for Mexican crude production stay near constant given 
new production coming on line from fields including 
Ku-Maloob-Zaap and the Light Marine Crude project.  Despite 
acknowledging conflicting reports from outside sources on 
Mexico's reserve picture, Moreira predicted that Mexican 
crude exports would increase three percent in 2006.  He sees 
no inherent conflict between supplying the refinery and 
Mexico's production capacity. 
 
-- If the refinery will accept alternative sources of supply, 
where could they come from? 
 
Moreira noted that Mexico sought a very long-term contract to 
supply the refinery with its crude as a principal condition 
for the project.  This contract would, he believed; fully 
load the facility, obviating the need for additional crude 
supply.  At the conclusion of the initial purchase contract, 
the brokering company could choose other sources if it wished. 
 
Gas Pipeline Project 
-------------------- 
 
9.  (SBU) Landa and Moreira both noted that while the Natural 
Gas project was on a slower timetable, leaders could possibly 
decide to approve a Colombia-Mexico gas interconnection at 
the May 31 meeting, though this was less clear.  On January 
27, the IDB issued a draft "Terms of Reference" document for 
a study of the pipeline project (copy e-mailed to Washington 
Agencies).  According to the draft document, the selected 
consulting firm should consider supply to the region from 
Mexico or Colombia or from NGL regassification.  The first 
phase of analysis should include: an updated regional gas 
demand forecast; definition of a possible supply scenarios; 
and recommendations of the best way to supply the region.  A 
second phase would add: a proposal for a regulatory framework 
for the region; possible pipeline alignments and an first 
environmental impact analysis; and development of a financing 
and development plan.  The Central American representatives 
are due to review this draft proposal in February. 
 
Renewables and Energy Efficiency 
-------------------------------- 
 
10.  (SBU) At the meeting of Central American experts on 
renewables, January 30-31 (ref F) on the margins of the World 
Bank Renewable Energy Policy Forum, the representatives 
agreed on eight conclusions geared mostly towards increased 
cooperation and exchange among the participants.  According 
to Landa, they defined no specific project.  (Conclusions 
e-mailed to Washington Agencies)  On energy efficiency, 
Mexico has proposed specific cooperation programs that 
include: modifying street lighting to use more energy 
efficient bulbs; promotion of alternative fuels for 
electricity generation; and assisting participants with 
 
MEXICO 00000620  005 OF 005 
 
 
development of regulatory frameworks to allow consumers to 
replace old appliances with more energy efficient models. 
Mexico will pay for Central American experts to meet February 
17 in El Salvador to approve these projects and develop 
funding schemes for the projects.  Funding sources could 
include the GOM, the UN Economic Commission for Latin America 
(CEPAL), and the IDB. Landa noted that the Mexican Foreign 
Affairs Secretariat would foot the bill for the initial work 
in this area to ensure follow-up. 
 
Comment: Working With Mexico 
---------------------------- 
 
11.  (SBU) Senior officials from SENER and SRE have been 
willing to provide us with information on the progress of the 
PIEM.  To gain our acceptance of the project they have not 
shied away from sharing their anti-Chavez views--SRE directly 
and SENER, by outlining for us why Venezuela was not serving 
the region well.  They are; however, very sensitive about the 
PIEM remaining a Mexican regional project, fulfilling what he 
considers his committment to Deputy Secretary Zoellick to 
send a briefing team to Washington.  While Moriera made it 
clear at our meeting that "news of his presence in the halls 
of the State Department" would kill the PIEM, he was happy to 
talk with U.S. officials.  He only needed the cover the BNC 
would provide.  Landa noted that after Moreira made his 
decision not to send a team in February known, Derbez ordered 
Gomez to brief Washington on the project.  All involved 
believe that Gomez is far enough away from the details of the 
project that she can show her face in Foggy Bottom.  She will 
be well briefed, and should be able to answer questions about 
Mexico's work with the IDB, though she will be less 
successful with technical details.  On cooperation, Landa 
strongly suggested that the USG remain in close contact with 
IDB Regional Operations Division Chief Marcelo Antinori about 
specific tie-ins with U.S. efforts and IDB Vice President 
Ciro De Falco about our support for the project(s).  End 
Comment. 
 
 
Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity 
 
KELLY