US embassy cable - 02TEGUCIGALPA3145

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 003145 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA, WHA/CCA, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE FOR INR, S/CT, DS/ICI/ITA, AND PRM 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2012 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PGOV, ETTC, PINR, SMIG, ASEC, HO, CU 
SUBJECT: (S) HONDURAS HAS MANY CUBAN DOCTORS; MADURO 
CONCERNED OVER INTELLIGENCE WORK BUT NO GOH PLANS TO 
CURTAIL GOC ASSISTANCE 
 
REF: A. PIERCE/FISK E-MAIL NOVEMBER 
     B. TEGUCIGALPA 3076 
     C. STATE 205386 (ALL NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Roger Pierce; 
Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). 
 
1. (S) Summary:  There are approximately 100-225 Cuban 
doctors and nurses in Honduras.  A bilateral treaty between 
the GOH and the GOC governs the program.  In addition, there 
are approximately 500 Hondurans studying medicine in Cuba on 
GOC scholarships.  President Ricardo Maduro told Ambassador 
November 12 that he was very concerned with the intelligence 
activities of the Cuban Medical Brigade, and that he was not 
aware of any immediate plans to accept the Cuban nomination 
of Dr. Elis Alberto Gonzalez Polanco, Chief of the Cuban 
Medical Brigade, as the first Cuban Ambassador to Honduras. 
Nevertheless, the GOH is not likely to curtail any of its 
medical assistance programs with Cuba.  End Summary. 
 
Cuban Doctors and Nurses in Honduras 
------------------------------------ 
 
2. (U) PolOff delivered reftel C demarche on Cuban doctors 
November 5 to MFA DG for Foreign Policy AMB Mario Fortin. 
PolOff emphasized talking points about the disadvantages of 
accepting Cuban doctors.  PolOff also gave Fortin detailed 
information on USAID and Peace Corps health projects in 
Honduras, which are substantial. 
 
3. (SBU)  Fortin told PolOff that the GOH had a bilateral 
treaty with the GOC governing the Cuban Medical Brigades 
program in Honduras.  Note:  USAID has asked the Ministry of 
Health for a copy of the treaty, which Post will fax to 
WHA/CEN and WHA/CCA if a copy is obtained.  End Note.  Fortin 
said that the GOH sets the total numbers of doctors the 
Cubans can bring to Honduras and decides where the doctors 
go.  Typically the Cuban doctors are sent to rural areas or 
other hard-to-staff areas where Honduran doctors do not want 
to go.  Note: PolOff and ConOff briefly met a Cuban doctor at 
the National Mental Hospital during a joint CONS/POL tour of 
the facility.  End Note. 
 
4. (SBU) Fortin estimated there are approximately 100 Cuban 
doctors in Honduras.  USAID estimates that there are 
approximately 227 Cuban doctors and nurses in Honduras at any 
given time, and that approximately one-third of the Cubans 
are women.  Fortin said that the Cuban doctors must return to 
Cuba when their six-month stay was complete.  He said there 
had not been any requests for political asylum or any other 
problems.  USAID has learned that 20 of the Cuban 
doctors/nurses have asked to stay in Honduras.  Fortin said 
that the GOH does not pay the doctors salaries, but does pay 
a small amount (approximately USD 75/doctor) via PAHO to the 
doctors. 
 
5. (C) Fortin claimed that the GOC had not used the 
assistance by the doctors to try to get GOH support for Cuba 
in multilateral fora. 
 
6. (S) President Ricardo Maduro told Ambassador November 12 
that he was very concerned with the intelligence activities 
of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Honduras, saying that he was 
convinced they were up to mischief (ref A).  In addition, 
Maduro said that he was not aware of any immediate plans to 
accept the Cuban nomination of Dr. Elis Alberto Gonzalez 
Polanco, Chief of the Cuban Medical Brigade, as the first 
Cuban Ambassador to Honduras since the GOH normalized 
diplomatic relations with Cuba January 26, 2002 (see ref B 
for more information on that issue).  Maduro reiterated that 
he was in no hurry to act on this issue and promised 
Ambassador that he would consult with the Embassy prior to 
any announcement of the acceptance of a Cuban ambassador. 
Maduro said that he would look very closely at the proposed 
candidate's background to assure that it was not problematic 
in terms of unacceptable activities, including human rights 
violations. 
 
Honduran Med Students in Cuba; Cuban Professors in Honduras 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
7. (SBU) In addition, Fortin said there are approximately 500 
Hondurans currently studying medicine in Cuba on GOC 
scholarships, with 100 starting each year.  Fortin said that 
several private universities also have agreements directly 
with the GOC to bring Cuban professors to Honduras to teach. 
He said that the professors are paid approximately USD 
200/month directly, not via the GOC, for a period of six 
months to one year.  He said there had not been any problems 
or requests for political asylum from the professors.  Post 
also notes that Minister of Public Health Elias Lizardo has 
traveled to Cuba a couple times in 2002 and that some 
Hondurans travel to Cuba for medical treatment. 
 
GTMO Cubans and Rafters 
----------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) Fortin said that the lack of problems with the Cuban 
doctors and professors was in contrast to the Cubans who came 
to Honduras from Guantanamo.  Of the twelve families, Fortin 
said that most had left Honduras, with the majority of those 
going to Mexico or the U.S. illegally.  He termed the program 
a complete failure.  In an unrelated meeting with 
International Organization of Migration (IOM) official 
Norberto Giron November 13, Giron told PolOff that to the 
best of IOM's knowledge all of the Cubans resettled from 
Guantanamo had left Honduras illegally for either Mexico or 
the U.S.  Fortin also told PolOff that in the past a small 
number of rafters have arrived on the Caribbean coast of 
Honduras and have been granted political asylum. 
 
Honduras Willing to Accept Cuban Doctors Despite Negatives 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
9. (S) Comment:  It is apparent to Post that the GOH is not 
likely to curtail any of its medical assistance programs with 
Cuba.  As a poor, developing country with a limited public 
health system, the GOH is unlikely to turn down any offers of 
assistance, even when aspects of the program concern the 
president himself.  Post is pleased to note President 
Maduro's hesitancy in moving forward on the Cubans' 
nomination of Polanco for ambassador.  Post expects that 
Maduro will stick to his promise to Ambassador to consult 
with the Embassy before making any announcement on a Cuban 
ambassador.  Post is hopeful that Maduro will either continue 
to delay a decision or reject Polanco's nomination outright. 
End Comment. 
PALMER