HONDURAN FM TELLS AMBASSADOR GOH HAS ACCEPTED

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