US embassy cable - 02TEGUCIGALPA3206

S E C R E T TEGUCIGALPA 003206 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA, WHA/CCA, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE FOR INR, S/CT, AND DS/ICI/ITA 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: X1, X5, X6 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, PGOV, ETTC, PINR, ASEC, HO, CU 
SUBJECT: HONDURAN FM TELLS AMBASSADOR GOH HAS ACCEPTED 
CUBAN AMBASSADORIAL NOMINEE POLANCO 
 
REF: A. CARHART/PALMER E-MAIL NOVEMBER 19 
 
     B. TEGUCIGALPA 3145 
     C. PIERCE/FISK E-MAIL NOVEMBER 
     D. TEGUCIGALPA 3076 
     E. STATE 205386 (ALL NOTAL) 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Larry Palmer; Reasons 1.5 (B), (C) and (D). 
 
1. (C) Ambassador met with Honduran Foreign Minister 
Guillermo Perez-Cadalso Arias November 21 at Perez-Cadalso's 
request.  FM Perez-Cadalso told Ambassador that the GOH had 
decided to accept the Cuban nomination of Dr. Elis Alberto 
Gonzalez Polanco, Chief of the Cuban Medical Brigade, as the 
first Cuban ambassador to Honduras. 
 
2. (S) The GOH approved Polanco despite the fact that ORCA 
sources have indicated that the Honduran Armed Forces had 
urged President Maduro not to approve Polanco's nomination 
because of Polanco's alleged activities for Cuban 
intelligence.  (Note: As noted in ref A, ORCA has not been 
able to independently confirm that Polanco is a Cuban 
intelligence officer, but ORCA would not dispute that some of 
the Cuban "doctors" sent to Honduras may be Cuban 
intelligence officers.  End Note.) 
 
3. (U) FM Perez-Cadalso announced the news of the GOH's 
acceptance of Polanco to reporters shortly after meeting with 
Ambassador.  Perez-Cadalso said that the GOH would not name a 
Honduran ambassador to Cuba until 2003.  Cuban diplomatic 
sources had previously leaked the news of the GOH's 
acceptance of Polanco to the press and it was reported in 
Honduran papers the morning of November 21, prior to 
Ambassador's meeting with Perez-Cadalso. 
 
4. (S) Comment:  Post notes that the MFA obeyed the letter 
but not the spirit of President Ricardo Maduro November 12 
pledge to Ambassador to consult with the Embassy prior to any 
announcement of the acceptance of a Cuban ambassador (ref B). 
 Since the news of the GOH's acceptance of Polanco had 
already been leaked to the press prior to the FM's meeting 
with Ambassador, the meeting was more of a formal 
notification than a consultation.  Post is disappointed that 
Maduro did not continue to delay a decision or reject 
Polanco's nomination outright.  Post notes that 
Perez-Cadalso's statement that the GOH will not name a 
Honduran ambassador to Cuba until 2003 is in line with 
Maduro's statements to Ambassador November 12.  Post also has 
heard rumors that former Human Rights Ombudsman Leo 
Valladares may be under consideration for the post.  If true, 
his appointment would highlight the USG's and GOH's human 
rights concerns in Cuba.  End Comment. 
PALMER