US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA503

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000503 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CCA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC 
STATE FOR DRL AND DRL/MLA 
STATE FOR INR/AN/IAA, IO, AND USUN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PINR, PREL, KDEM, CU, HO, CHR-1 
SUBJECT: HONDURAN PRESIDENT MADURO LEAVES DOOR OPEN ON 
TAKING LEAD IN DRAFTING UNCHR CUBA RESOLUTION 
 
REF: A. PALMER/FISK TELCON 03/01 
 
     B. TEGUCIGALPA 468 
     C. TEGUCIGALPA 365 
     D. TEGUCIGALPA 307 
     E. STATE 20401 
     F. STATE 13279 
     G. 03 STATE 313469 
     H. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 2866 
 
Classified By: DCM Roger Pierce, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Ambassador met March 1 with Honduran President Ricardo 
Maduro on the issue of the UN Commission on Human Rights 
(UNCHR) resolution on Cuba.  DCM, Minister of the Presidency 
Luis Cosenza, and Presidential Advisor Ramon Medina Luna were 
also present.  The meeting followed Ambassador and Political 
Counselor's February 25 and 26 meetings (respectively) with 
Cosenza on drafting the resolution (ref B).  Although Maduro 
expressed his support for the U.S. on Cuba and other issues, 
he reiterated Cosenza's concerns regarding why the GOH was 
not eager to be the lead sponsor.  Specifically, he noted 
that the GOH: wanted to avoid becoming a target of Cuba; 
wanted the GOC to continue its medical assistance to Honduras 
with Cuban doctors in rural areas (despite some concerns the 
GOH has about the doctors); wanted to conclude a pending 
convention on maritime borders with Cuba; and, was concerned 
about a number of social issues percolating which led him to 
believe that becoming involved in a diplomatic confrontation 
with Cuba at this moment would give another opening for the 
political opposition to criticize his administration. 
 
2. (C) However, Maduro did not rule out the GOH taking the 
lead in drafting a resolution, and said that he would be 
willing to talk to the Secretary about the issue.  He noted 
that if the GOH decided to take the lead in sponsoring the 
resolution, the GOH wondered whether there might be a 
possible tangible benefit (unspecified) in return from the 
USG.  Maduro noted that he would be passing through the U.S. 
on March 8 returning to Honduras from his trip to Spain (he 
departs Honduras March 2) and that he would be interested in 
meeting briefly with the President or the Secretary to 
discuss the UNCHR Cuba resolution and other issues. 
PALMER