AZMEX POLICY 25-3-12

Note: yet another attempt at getting this one out
thx

AZMEX POLICY 25 MAR 2012

Note: The arms issue getting headlines in national media.

Mexico and Vatican, stop arms
Experienced violence in Mexico has been one of the themes that have
permeated the papal visit, and was discussed during the private
meeting of about 40 minutes that the Pope had with President Felipe
Calderon at the Casa del Conde Rul, in the Plaza de La Paz, next to
the cathedral
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/primera/39093.html

CEREMONY. Yesterday morning, the pope held a private Mass at the
College Miraflores. (Photo: ROMANO OSSERVATORE Reuters)
Sunday March 25, 2012
Jorge Ramos, Julian Sanchez and Natalia Gomez Quintero / Sent | The
Universal
politica@eluniversal.com.mx

GUANAJUATO, Gto. - Pope Benedict XVI and President Felipe Calderon
agreed on the need to curb the flow of small arms and light weapons,
nutritional source for organized crime.

"The need for an international treaty on trade in small arms and
light weapons, since their proliferation has led to criminal activity
of organized crime" was one of the main issues between Benedict XVI
and Calderon, according to the official communique of the meeting
issued by the Presidency of the Republic.

Experienced violence in Mexico has been one of the themes that have
permeated the papal visit, and was discussed during the private
meeting of about 40 minutes in the Casa del Conde Rul, in the Plaza
de La Paz, next to the cathedral.

Parallel to the dialogue Pope Calderon, the delegations of both also
met as usual on the road from Benedict XVI, and agreed on "the need
to conclude as soon as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to regulate
responsible trade of SALW, so as to prevent possession by criminals. "

Raise global agenda

The Chair reported that the Pope and Calderón commented on the global
challenges facing the world, and on which both Mexico and the Holy
See maintained in an active position.

Climate change and its effects, food security and the fight against
world hunger and the desire to move toward nuclear disarmament were
also part of the agenda.

They praised the Catholic Church in the natural disaster relief and
humanitarian assistance. They also referred to the current situation
of world conflicts.

The papal delegation is headed by Secretary of State of the Holy See,
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti,
responsible for Relations with States.

The entourage of President Felipe Calderon joined the Secretaries of
the Interior, Alejandro Poire, and Foreign Affairs, Patricia Espinosa.

The Mexican side outlined the agenda of Mexico, who chairs the G20
this year, along with climate change, combating transnational
organized crime and migration.

Calderón was accompanied by his wife, Margarita Zavala, who dressed
in black with a cover, for reasons of protocol, as well as their
children Maria, Juan Pablo and Luis Felipe.

The presidency recalled that diplomatic relations between Mexico and
the Holy See are based on the premise of the constitutional
separation of church and state, which was established September 21,
1992.

In the meeting with the Pontiff was also attended by Cardinal
Norberto Rivera Carrera, the recently retired Cardinal Juan Sandoval
Iniguez and the Archbishop of Monterrey, Francisco Robles.