US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1884

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001884 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT. FOR PM/RSAT, PM/PPA, L/T, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS, MARR, PGOV, KTIA, PREL, HO 
SUBJECT: MILITARY GRANT ASSISTANCE:  ARTICLE 505 EXCHANGE OF 
DIP NOTES FINALLY ACHIEVED 
 
REF:  STATE 05897 
 
1. (SBU)  On August 12, PolMilOff and MILGP Commander 
briefed Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs (VMFA) Juan Alberto 
Lara Bueso, a member of the Honduran Armed Forces (HOAF) - 
representing both the HOAF and the Ministry of Defense 
(MOD), and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Director 
General of Treaties, Ivonne Bonilla, on the proposed Article 
505 Amendment.  The original demarche and diplomatic note 
were delivered to the MFA January 20, 2005.  Since that 
time, the Government of Honduras (GOH) has been shuffling 
questions and blame between the MFA, the MOD and the HOAF. 
After Embassy personnel answered GOH questions and resolved 
outstanding issues, the GOH agreed to accept the wording 
changes in the amendment and to send a dip note in response 
to the Embassy's dip note.  The primary aspects of confusion 
were the wording and reasons for the amendment.  These 
questions however were not relayed to the Embassy by the 
GOH, until just prior to the August meeting.  The diplomatic 
note was signed on August 22 and received by the Embassy 
August 24. 
 
2. (U) Begin informal translation of dip note: 
 
Verbal Note No. 169-DT 
 
The Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of 
Honduras, has the pleasure to address the Honorable Embassy 
of the United States of America with reference to the Note 
No. 4 dated January 20, 2005 which literally says: 
 
"The Embassy of the United States of America presents its 
compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Honduras 
and, referring to the Embassy's note number 53 of May 9, 
1974, together with the Ministry's note number 829-SAC of 
May 15, 1975, which constitute an Agreement concerning 
payment to the United States of net proceeds from the sale 
or disposal of defense articles furnished on a grant basis, 
proposes that the Agreement be amended. 
 
The Agreement would be amended by replacing "under the 
military assistance program of", with "on a grant basis 
from" in the second paragraph. 
 
If this proposal is acceptable to Honduras, the Embassy of 
the United States proposes that this note and the Ministry's 
affirmative note in reply shall constitute an agreement 
between the two Governments which shall enter into force on 
the date of the Ministry's reply. 
 
The Embassy of the United States of America avails itself of 
this opportunity to renew to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 
of the host government, the assurances of its highest 
consideration. 
 
Embassy of the United States of America. 
Tegucigalpa, Honduras, January 20, 2005." 
 
The Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of 
Honduras is pleased to inform the Honorable Embassy of the 
United States of America its agreement with the proposal 
presented. 
 
The notes exchanged by the Embassy and the Secretary of 
Foreign Affairs will constitute henceforth the agreement 
between the United States and Honduras, agreement which 
shall enter into force on the date of this note. 
 
The Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs avails itself of 
this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United 
States of America the assurances of its highest 
consideration. 
 
Tegucigalpa, M.D.C. August 22, 2005 
 
SEAL 
 
The Honorable 
Embassy of the United States of America 
Tegucigalpa 
 
3. (U) End informal translation. 
 
4. (U) Post is pouching a certified copy of the Embassy's 
January 20 dip note and the original of the GOH's August 22 
dip note in response under registry number 437299 to L/T. 
 
Williard