US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA531

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000531 
 
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: 03/04/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PINR, PREL, KDEM, CU, HO, CHR-1 
SUBJECT: HONDURAN VICE FM REITERATES CONCERNS ON TAKING 
LEAD IN DRAFTING UNCHR CUBA RESOLUTION 
 
REF: A. WAGNER/PIERCE TELCON 03/04 
 
     B. MADRID 735 
     C. STATE 47065 
     D. TEGUCIGALPA 503 
     E. PALMER/FISK TELCON 03/01 
     F. TEGUCIGALPA 468 
     G. TEGUCIGALPA 365 
     H. TEGUCIGALPA 307 
     I. STATE 20401 
     J. STATE 13279 
     K. 03 STATE 313469 
     L. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 2866 (ALL NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: DCM Roger Pierce, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) At the MFA's request, DCM and PolOff met March 3 with 
Vice Foreign Minister Anibal Quinonez, MFA Senior Advisor 
Policarpo Callejas, and MFA DG for Foreign Policy AMB Mario 
Fortin on the issue of the UN Commission on Human Rights 
(UNCHR) resolution on Cuba.  The meeting followed Ambassador 
and DCM's March 1 meeting with President Ricardo Maduro and 
Minister of the Presidency Luis Cosenza and Presidential 
Advisor Ramon Medina Luna (ref D) and Ambassador and 
Political Counselor's February 25 and 26 meetings 
(respectively) with Cosenza on drafting the resolution (ref 
F).  Quinonez said he had requested the meeting to discuss 
the status of the USG's request for Honduras to take the lead 
on drafting the resolution.  DCM underlined that this 
resolution was a high priority for the USG and stated that 
the USG was still looking to the GOH to step up and take the 
lead on drafting the resolution.  DCM mentioned the call 
between WHA A/S Noriega and FM Leonidas Rosa Bautista on the 
issue and noted the probability of a call from the Secretary 
to President Maduro. 
 
2. (C) Quinonez said that the final decision on drafting the 
resolution was for Maduro to make and that the door was still 
open.  He said the MFA was preparing a list of the pros and 
cons of drafting the resolution for Maduro.  Quinonez then 
reiterated Maduro and 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) and scholarships for 
Hondurans to study medicine in Cuba; wanted to conclude a 
pending convention on maritime borders with Cuba; and, was 
concerned about a number of percolating social issues which 
led the GOH 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.  Key among these issues for the MFA appeared 
to be the maritime border issue, with Callejas specifically 
stating that the GOH wanted this agreement signed and 
ratified prior to Castro's death. 
 
3. (C) DCM emphasized that the USG was looking to have this 
issue resolved ASAP, so that a resolution would be ready to 
be introduced when the CHR opens March 15. 
 
4. (C) Post understands that the Secretary spoke to President 
Maduro on March 4 and that they agreed to meet in Washington 
on Maduro's return trip from Spain.  Post will work closely 
with WHA/CEN and the GOH on the details surrounding this 
planned meeting. 
PALMER