Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03TEGUCIGALPA1549
2003-07-01 23:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

ONGOING MARITIME DISPUTE BETWEEN HONDURAS AND

Tags:  PBTS PREL PGOV MOPS ECON EFIS PINR HO 
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UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001549 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT. FOR WHA/CEN, PM, EB, OES, AND L

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS PREL PGOV MOPS ECON EFIS PINR HO
SUBJECT: ONGOING MARITIME DISPUTE BETWEEN HONDURAS AND
NICARAGUA MAY BE ON THE PATH TO RESOLUTION

REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 652

B. TEGUCIGALPA 606

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001549

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT. FOR WHA/CEN, PM, EB, OES, AND L

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS PREL PGOV MOPS ECON EFIS PINR HO
SUBJECT: ONGOING MARITIME DISPUTE BETWEEN HONDURAS AND
NICARAGUA MAY BE ON THE PATH TO RESOLUTION

REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 652

B. TEGUCIGALPA 606


1. (U) Nicaraguan and Honduran military authorities recently
deemed ongoing territorial disputes between the two nations
in the process of resolution, according to press reports.
Nicaraguan GEN Javier Carrion articulated his commitment to
resolving maritime disputes peacefully, as well as to
fostering a constructive means of communicating disagreements
between both countries. In response, head of the Honduran
armed forces, GEN Jose Barahona, affirmed that relations have
improved in the region, due in part to the recent commitment
of Central American countries to resolving maritime and land
disputes through instruments of international mediation.


2. (U) The maritime disagreement between both countries
stems from controversy over competing claims to maritime
territory and their exclusive economic zones in the
countries' Pacific and Caribbean coasts. One flash point is
fishing rights. Nicaragua has alleged that Hondurans have
been illegally fishing in the Gulf of Fonseca, whose waters
are shared by Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador.
Diplomatic tensions came to a head in November 1999 when
Honduras signed an agreement with Colombia in the Caribbean
which Nicaraguan authorities claimed led to the usurping of
130,000 square km of Nicaraguan maritime territory. In
response, Nicaragua imposed a 35 percent tariff on
Honduran-made products and sued Honduras in the International
Court of Justice. Nicaragua finally revoked its retaliatory
tariff on Honduran products in March of this year.


3. (U) General Carrion recently announced that Nicaragua
would await the International Court of Justice's decision on
the Caribbean maritime border dispute, expected in 2004.
Likewise, General Barahona articulated his support for the
process and his hope that international mediation would
foster closer relations between the Central American
countries.


4. (SBU) Comment: The good news here is that there is an
obvious channel of communication between the two military
chiefs. However, many members of the Honduran armed forces
remain deeply suspicious of Nicaraguan intentions. In
addition, GEN Carrion's public commentary also highlights the
need for a clearer delineation of maritime borders in the
Gulf of Fonseca through the use of buoys. Despite his
positive stance, GEN Carrion warned that Honduran and El
Salvadoran fishermen who crossed illegally into Nicaraguan
waters would be detained. Honduran officials tell EmbOffs
that this is exactly the kind of Nicaraguan enforcement
action in the gulf that normally exacerbates tensions. End
Comment.
Palmer