US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA623

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000623 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EB/TRA, WHA/EPSC, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE FOR EB/TRA (DHAYWOOD) 
TREASURY FOR DDOUGLASS 
COMMERCE FOR AVANVUREN, MSIEGELMAN 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EWWT, ETRD, PGOV, KSTC, PARM, PREL, PTER, ASEC, HO 
SUBJECT: HONDURAS: MARITIME SECURITY COORDINATION RESPONSE 
 
REF: STATE 38874 
 
This cable is Sensitive But Unclassified and should be 
protected accordingly.  Not intended for internet 
distribution. 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Post maintains extensive contacts with the 
GOH and the private sector on all issues relating to maritime 
security and the efficient and safe functioning of Honduras' 
ports.  Coordination at Post among agencies is excellent and 
is conducted on an as-needed basis.  The GOH has demonstrated 
both an awareness of the need for and the political will to 
support implementation of improved port security.  Such 
measures are vital for both U.S. and Honduran national and 
economic security.  Washington could assist Post by better 
coordinating and disseminating maritime security policy to 
the field.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) This response cable is keyed to the questions 
contained in reftel. 
 
3. (SBU) Post views maritime security as a vital economic and 
security issue and uses all available avenues of consultation 
and coordination to promote maritime security.  Through 
reporting sections, law enforcement, and other agencies, Post 
maintains close relations with a variety of host country 
government and private organizations.  Post government 
contacts include the National Port Security Commission, 
Merchant Marine, Ministry of Public Security, the Attorney 
General,s Office, the state-run National Port Authority, 
Customs, Immigration, Honduran Navy, host country 
intelligence services, and the national police.  In the 
private sector, Post maintains contact with major shipping 
firms and port users, companies that provide or will soon 
provide security services at the ports, and companies that 
own or manage private piers or ports.  Post worked closely 
with the GOH in 2003-2004 to ensure that the GOH met the July 
2004 International Maritime Organization (IMO) and U.S. 
Maritime Transportation Safety Act (MTSA) certification 
deadline for port and vessel security.  Post organized and 
supported the first U.S. Coast Guard inspection in Latin 
America.  Honduras passed that inspection with flying colors 
and has been cited by the USCG for certain best practices in 
port security. 
 
4. (U) Economic Implications:  Port security is vital if 
Honduras is to gain maximum benefit from the Central American 
Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the Millennium Challenge 
Account (MCA), and bilateral and multilateral development 
assistance.  These programs aim to assist Honduras' economic 
development by promoting export-led growth.  This growth will 
produce employment and raise overall standards of living, 
while diversifying the economy and thereby making it more 
resilient in the face of exogenous shocks.  The success of 
each of these efforts is predicated on efficient and reliable 
access to foreign markets.  Over 83 percent of all exports 
from Honduras pass through Honduras' ports (principally 
Puerto Cortes) -- they are the vital link to international 
markets and to prospects for prosperity. 
 
5. (U) Honduras recognizes the importance of secure maritime 
trade, both to facilitate growth and to reassure trade 
partners (particularly the U.S.) that its exports pose a low 
threat to their national security.  For this reason, Honduras 
pushed strongly for consideration under the Container 
Security Initiative (CSI) and also unilaterally decided to 
implement gamma-ray non-intrusive scanning of all 
containerized traffic through Puerto Cortes.  The GOH has 
shown an awareness of the importance of maritime security and 
demonstrated the political will to take the necessary steps 
to improve it. 
 
6. (SBU) Maritime security is not delineated to one specific 
portfolio within the Embassy, given the varied and 
overlapping interests different agencies have in these 
issues.  Our efforts focus on, but are not limited to: 
counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, weapons and alien 
smuggling, WMDs, anti-corruption, trade facilitation, and 
CAFTA implementation.  Agencies collaborate when appropriate 
(for example, trade facilitation and anti-corruption, 
anti-narcotics policy and drug interdiction, and alien 
smuggling and immigration).  DHS is resident at Post and 
collaborates with other agencies as warranted.  Post does not 
have a formal maritime security coordinating mechanism but 
does conduct ad-hoc meetings as warranted.  Post,s MPP also 
includes strategies for promoting maritime security practices. 
 
7. (SBU) Washington can improve its response to concerns 
expressed by Post on maritime security issues through better 
interagency coordination at the headquarters level and timely 
communication with the field.  It was unfortunate that DHS 
headquarters neither consulted nor informed Post prior to 
issuing a press-release in February 2005 reversing its 
position and including Honduras in its short-list for 
consideration for CSI in 2006.  Until that time, on 
instructions from DHS, Post had, for more than a year, been 
managing-downward GOH expectations about joining CSI. 
 
Palmer 
Palmer