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
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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
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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
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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