US embassy cable - 02TEGUCIGALPA2959

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 002959 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR P, WHA, WHA/CEN, PM, AND INR/B 
NSC FOR MAISTO 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2012 
TAGS: PARM, PREL, MASS, MCAP, ETRD, PINR, HO, XK 
SUBJECT: HONDURAN MINDEF OUTLINES REGIONAL DISARMAMENT 
PLAN; EMERGES AS LEADING NATIONAL SECURITY FIGURE IN GOH 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 2534 
 
Classified By: PolChief Francisco Palmieri; 
Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D) 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Minister of Defense Federico Breve used his 
introductory courtesy call with the Ambassador to outline an 
ambitious Honduran regional disarmament policy initiative 
that seeks to complement the current push for greater 
regional economic integration.  Breve's vision is in line 
with U.S. policy goals and highlights how civilian leadership 
of Latin American militaries can advance U.S. interests in 
the region.  We expect Breve to be named as President Ricardo 
Maduro's National Security Advisor in the near future.  He 
will be dual-hatted and keep the Defense Ministry portfolio. 
End Summary. 
 
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Changing Region's Military Paradigm to Favor Integration 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
2. (C) During the Ambassador's initial courtesy call on 
October 23, Minister of Defense Federico &Fred8 Breve 
described in broad terms a Government of Honduras (GOH) 
initiative that seeks to reduce the size of regional 
militaries and number of armaments in Central America.  He 
explained that President Ricardo Maduro has proposed a 
regional disarmament initiative to his fellow Central 
American Presidents.  Maduro and Breve believe that reducing 
the size of the region's military forces and amount of 
military expenditures would boost regional economic 
integration efforts.  Breve told the Ambassador that the 
possibility of armed military confrontation between Central 
American countries was now in the past.  He said that 
President Maduro believes that regional disarmament could 
foster increased cooperation and build mutual trust among the 
region's countries; something that Maduro also mentioned 
previously in an August 28 meeting with WHA A/S Otto Reich 
(reftel). 
 
3. (C) Breve told the Ambassador that President Maduro has 
discussed this idea with Salvadoran President Francisco 
Flores and Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos.  All three 
presidents are interested in the topic and agreed that it 
should be tabled as an agenda item for further discussion at 
upcoming summits of Central American presidents.  Breve said 
that Flores expressed stronger interest in the idea because 
Flores sees its potential to change the fundamental paradigm 
of relations among the Central American countries.  Flores 
and Maduro believe a regional disarmament agreement could 
send a bold message to the international investment community 
that there is a new spirit of political stability in Central 
America.  However, Breve cautioned that while Flores is 
personally interested in the concept, he is moving slowly in 
advancing the issue with his own military in El Salvador, in 
part because El Salvador has some important pending arms 
purchases.  Bolanos, Breve noted, is even more limited in how 
he can respond because of the still strong influence of the 
Sandinistas on Nicaraguan military attitudes. 
 
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Seeking Balance in U.S. Military Assistance to Region 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
4. (C) Breve acknowledged that the GOH initiative is at a 
very preliminary stage but asked the Ambassador for U.S. 
support.  He has said previously that ministerial-level talks 
with El Salvador were encouraging but revealed that El 
Salvador was not ready to enter into detailed talks yet. 
Breve suggested that U.S. views would be welcome and 
important to the GOH. 
 
5. (C) Breve also pointed out that the U.S. could send out 
important signals to the region on this issue.  Breve noted 
that the U.S. is seeking to improve military to military 
relations with the Nicaraguan armed forces and added that 
with the right cues from the U.S. the Nicaraguan military 
might become an ally in this disarmament effort.  In 
addition, he asked that the U.S. pay special attention to the 
overall size of the Nicaraguan military.  He said the GOH 
believes it is once again trying to increase its numbers.  He 
mentioned that U.S. support for Salvadoran military hardware 
purchases be equally and carefully calibrated.  He has noted 
to other EmbOffs that it appears that there is a reduction in 
the size of Guatemalan military underway as well.  (COMMENT: 
Breve, while not saying so directly, feels that there is not 
a balance in U.S. FMF assistance to the region.  As the only 
civilian head of a Central American military, he has pointed 
out to EmbOffs that it would help his standing with his own 
military if he could show some positive results from the U.S. 
for Honduran military assistance requests.  We also note that 
Breve has never linked the Honduran decision to sign an 
International Criminal Court Article 98 agreement with the 
U.S. to any of his requests for U.S. military assistance. END 
COMMENT.) 
 
6. (C) The Ambassador replied that the U.S. strongly 
supported regional economic integration efforts that would 
promote a free trade agreement with the Central American 
countries.  The Ambassador said he would inform Washington of 
the GOH interest in regional disarmament and raise the issue 
at an upcoming Chiefs of Mission conference. 
 
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Defense Minister's National Security Role to Expand 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
7. (C) Defense Minister Breve will likely replace Ramon 
Medina Luna as National Security Advisor in the near future. 
Multiple sources have told post that President Maduro is 
giving Breve this expanded portfolio because Breve has 
successfully managed the Honduran Armed Forces' (HOAF's) 
support for the &zero-tolerance8 crime campaign.  The 
military's support has been steadfast and continual, when 
many doubted the HOAF,s ability to sustain its 
participation.  Breve also told the Ambassador that he is 
fully committed to expanding the military's role in the drug 
interdiction war.  He explained that while the police have 
the legal mandate to fight drug trafficking they do not have 
the wherewithal to do the job. 
 
8. (C) Breve said he is very happy with his role in the 
Maduro government.  He said that his lack of previous 
military experience was proving to be an advantage in running 
the Defense Ministry.  He explained that his private sector 
background allowed him to bring a business-like approach to 
his management of the Ministry.  He had already been able to 
improve the Ministry's contracting procedures and to 
negotiate better deals with some long-term military 
suppliers.  He also remarked that he had an excellent 
relationship with the Chief of the Joint Staff General Isaias 
Barahona.  Breve said that General Barahona was proving to be 
an excellent choice because he commands the full respect of 
his troops and has a well-developed understanding of the role 
of the military in peacetime. 
 
9. (C) COMMENT:  President Maduro was preparing to raise this 
disarmament initiative during the now-postponed visit of 
Secretary Powell earlier in the month.  Both the President 
 
SIPDIS 
and Defense Minister firmly believe that a regional 
disarmament effort could positively catalyze regional 
economic integration efforts by reducing the threat of 
military action over ongoing border disputes and 
demonstrating to the international community the political 
maturity of the current regional political leadership.  Breve 
also freely concedes that since Honduras has the smallest 
armed forces in the region it has much to gain from this 
initiative.  He admits that the GOH's budget situation will 
limit the growth of the Honduran armed forces in the near 
future and that he does not anticipate any significant GOH 
investment in military arms or hardware in the short-term. 
When Breve assumes the National Security portfolio, post 
expects him to be a more reliable and responsive interlocutor 
than Medina Luna.  END COMMENT. 
 
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Bio Note: Federico (Fred) BREVE Travieso 
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10. (C) Federico (Fred) BREVE Travieso was born August 18, 
1945 in Tegucigalpa and is married.  After attending the 
American School in Tegucigalpa, he earned a B.S. from McGill 
University in Montreal, Canada, and an MBA from the INCAE in 
Managua, Nicaragua.  He is a businessman and construction 
contractor and has built a small business empire in Honduras. 
 From 1990 to 1993, Breve Travieso was the General Manager of 
the Honduran electric company, National Electric Energy 
Company (ENEE).  In a 1992 survey conducted by the 
Tegucigalpa newspaper La Tribuna, Breve received the dubious 
honor of being the 'worst official of the year' with almost 
twice the votes of the official who came in second place.  In 
1991, he was embroiled in a scandal in which he allegedly 
orchestrated the payment of USD 2.8 million of debt owed to 
ENEE by Panama through Corporacion Financiera S.A. (COFISA). 
Coincidentally, relatives of high-level Honduran government 
officials owned COFISA.  (Comment:  At this point, we do not 
know if there was or is any connection between President 
Maduro and COFISA.  However, during the COFISA scandal, 
Maduro was president of the Central Bank of Honduras.  End 
comment.)  Breve sits on the boards of numerous local 
corporations and is the president and general manager of a 
construction company that held the local contract for 
expansion of the U.S. Embassy.  He speaks excellent English. 
PALMER