US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1776

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001776 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/USOAS, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE FOR DRL/MLA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2015 
TAGS: SOCI, PREL, KSUM, XL, XM, HO, OAS 
SUBJECT: HONDURAS DEMARCHED ON CHAVEZ SOCIAL CHARTER EVENT; 
GOH TO BE REPRESENTED BY OAS PERMREP 
 
REF: A. STATE 154693 
 
     B. TEGUCIGALPA 408 
     C. STATE 29142 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i., James G. Williard; 
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Charge and PolChief delivered August 25 ref A demarche 
on the Venezuelan-hosted Social Charter event (schedule for 
August 28) and emphasized USG concern to Minister of the 
Presidency Ramon Medina Luna and Foreign Minister AMB Mario 
Fortin.  PolChief noted that USG representation would be at a 
low level, if at all.  The FM said that the GOH would attend 
but would be represented by Honduras OAS PermRep Salvador 
Rodezno, and not at the ministerial level.  Post suggests 
that USOAS discuss U.S. concerns directly with AMB Rodezno. 
 
2. (C) On February 18, the previous FM had voiced to EmbOffs 
GOH concern over Venezuela's motivations and potentially 
harmful role with respect to the OAS Social Charter (see ref 
B).  Then-FM Leonidas Rosa Bautista had said at the time that 
there were two options - to try to stop the process or to try 
to work it for a better outcome.  He favored the latter as it 
would avoid controversy, especially if a group of countries 
took the lead.  AMB Fortin, then-Vice Minister, had noted 
that the draft charter could be influenced through the 
process.  Rosa Bautista said the GOH wanted to avoid a direct 
confrontation with Venezuela but also did not want an 
unfavorable initiative to go forward.  Rosa Bautista pledged 
to instruct the Honduran OAS PermRep to work with USOAS on 
the issue. 
 
3. (C) Minister Medina Luna took the opportunity of the 
August 25 discussion on Venezuela to voice again GOH concern 
about possible Venezuela coordination with the Cubans in 
support of leftist elements within Honduras, including the 
leftist Popular Block protest organization.  EmbOffs 
emphasized that the USG was concerned about any possible 
Venezuelan and/or Cuban funding in Honduras and urged the GOH 
to share any more specific information they obtained with the 
USG. 
Williard