US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1240

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001240 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/CCA, WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2015 
TAGS: ETTC, PREL, CU, HO 
SUBJECT: TEGUCIGALPA RESPONSE TO NSC-DIRECTED REVIEW 
REGARDING WAIVER OF TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT 
 
REF: STATE 96300 
 
Classified By: A/DCM PAUL TUEBNER; 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, 2004, the UN Commission on Human 
Rights (UNCHR) passed a Honduran-sponsored resolution calling 
for greater respect for human rights in Cuba.  In April 2005, 
Honduras voted with the United States on the UNCHR 2005 
resolution, which also called for greater respect for human 
rights in Cuba. 
 
2. (C) On April 19, 2005 Honduran MFA Vice Minister AMB Mario 
Fortin pledged to vote against the Cuban UNCHR resolution on 
the Guantanamo detainees, if it came to a vote.  This stance 
was consistent with their position on the 2004 Cuban 
resolution on the detainees, before that resolution was 
dropped. 
 
3. (C) Honduras has not named an Ambassador to Cuba, partly 
out of deference to U.S. wishes. 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.  Last year, PolCouns met with the new Honduran 
Charge d'Affaires in Havana, Humberto Lopez Villamil, prior 
to his recent departure to Havana to emphasize the importance 
of human rights in Cuba.  Villamil welcomed the meeting and 
indicated he would seek out the U.S. Interests Section in 
Havana. 
 
4. (C) In addition, the GOH has accepted 20 Cubans resettled 
by the International Organization of Migration (IOM).  The 
GOH did this despite a possible negative reaction from the 
GOC. 
 
5. (SBU) Post has requested information on investments made 
in Cuba by Honduran individuals or companies.  The Ministry 
of Industry and Trade and the Central Bank just began 
collecting information on Honduran investments abroad, and 
are preparing a preliminary report.  Last year, for the first 
time, the Central Bank has added a question on Honduran 
investment abroad to its annual questionnaire of Honduran 
companies.  Figures will be forthcoming; however, based upon 
ECONOFF conversation with the chief economist from the 
Central Bank, we do no expect any significant Honduran 
investments in Cuba throughout 2004. 
 
6. (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 
Palmer