US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA1461

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001461 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CCA AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2014 
TAGS: ETTC, PREL, CU, HO 
SUBJECT: TEGUCIGALPA RESPONSE TO NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW 
REGARDING WAIVER OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT 
 
REF: STATE 135512 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Palmieri; 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) The Government of Honduras (GOH) has actively worked 
to advance democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms 
in Cuba.  On April 15, the UN Commission on Human Rights 
(UNCHR) passed a Honduran-sponsored resolution calling for 
greater respect for human rights in Cuba.  The Government of 
Cuba responded to the GOH's action by suspending pending 
maritime boundary negotiations with Honduras, something that 
has been a foreign policy priority of President Ricardo 
Maduro's administration.  Also, while the GOH does have 
formal diplomatic relations with Cuba, Honduras has not named 
an Ambassador to Cuba, partly out of deference to U.S. 
wishes.  However, the GOH consistently and publicly states 
that concern over Cuba's human rights policies is a 
fundamental tenet of its policy toward the Castro regime. 
 
2. (C) If the Title III waiver were not renewed for Honduras, 
it could undermine clear GOH support for pressuring Cuba to 
improve its human rights record, undermine general GOH 
support for U.S. Cuba policy, and unnecessarily punish a 
supportive regional ally. 
Palmer