US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA646

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000646 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR 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, ECPS, EINV, PGOV, KMCA, HO 
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SUPPORTS CSI FOR HONDURAS 
 
REF: MANDOJANA/DUNN EMAIL OF 03/14/05 
 
1. Post strongly supports the Government of Honduras, 
request to be included in the next tranche of countries 
invited to join the Container Security Initiative (CSI).  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.  Pursuant to ref A, Post would 
welcome an assessment visit at the earliest opportunity by a 
Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Patrol 
evaluation team. 
 
2. 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.  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. 
 
3. In December 2004, the GOH unilaterally decided to 
implement gamma-ray non-intrusive scanning of all 
containerized traffic through Puerto Cortes, the largest port 
in the Central American region and the 4th ranked in Latin 
America in volume shipped to the U.S.  The scanning equipment 
is already in-country, and operations are scheduled to 
commence on May 1, 2005.  The equipment, supplied by U.S. 
firm Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), 
consists of one portal-style Vehicle and Cargo Inspection 
Systems (VACIS) and two mobile (truck-mounted) VACIS.  The 
equipment has a combined through-put of approximately 1,000 
containers per day, comfortably exceeding current needs based 
on a 2004 annual port volume of approximately 245,000 
import/export movements. 
 
4.  Inclusion of Honduras in the CSI program will improve 
maritime security, expedite international trade, assist in 
counter-narcotics efforts, facilitate implementation of the 
Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), and protect the 
security of the U.S. homeland.  Improving the security and 
efficiency of Puerto Cortes also directly supports the U.S. 
foreign aid strategy of promoting economic development in 
Honduras through export-led growth.  Including Honduras in 
the CSI program is fully consistent with key U.S. foreign 
policy and national security goals in the region.  Post 
strongly supports this request. 
 
Palmer 
 
Palmer