US embassy cable - 02TEGUCIGALPA2855

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002855 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR PD/WHA (MBUCKLEY) 
INFO IIP 
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, APAOS, IOs, 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, HO, PA 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: HONDURAS AND THE WAR AGAINST IRAQ 
 
 
  Editorial in "La Tribuna"(liberal party periodical) 
  Tegucigalpa-based daily (10/9), "Honduras and the War 
  against Iraq." The Minister of Foreign Affairs has said 
  that Honduras will support the United States in an 
  invasion of Iraq to bring down and if it possible get rid 
  of Saddam Hussein". 
 
  "In addition to this, the Honduran government also signed 
  an agreement with the United States promising not to send 
  North American soldiers stationed in our country to the 
  International Criminal Court for trial."  This agreement 
  was signed at the request of the United States who seeks 
  to sign similar agreements with other countries in order 
  to protect U.S. soldiers from being tried at the 
  International Criminal Court". With these two incidences 
  of support, nobody can question that Honduras is not an 
  excellent ally of the United States. 
 
  "Because of the unconditional support that Honduras 
  offered to its northern neighbor on two issues that are 
  of high interest to it, we would hope the visit of Colin 
  Powell to Honduras would be advantageous and beneficial 
  and will give us the opportunity to outline themes that 
  are important to us - of which we have many, including 
  the border problems with our neighbors". 
 
Palmer.