58TH UNGA: HONDURAN FM SEEKING APPOINTMENT WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001644 SIPDIS DEPT. FOR IO/UNP (NARANJO) AND IO/PPC (HUGHES) DEPT. FOR WHA/PPC (LOKKA) AND WHA/CEN USUN FOR ZAID NSC FOR DICARLO E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2013 TAGS: PREL AORC PHUM HO UNGA UN SUBJECT: 58TH UNGA: HONDURAN FM SEEKING APPOINTMENT WITH SECRETARY SIPDIS REF: A. STATE 184648 ¶B. STATE 175664 Classified By: Political Chief Francisco Palmieri; Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) On June 27, PolChief discussed the Government of Honduras' (GOH) participation in the 58th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and U.S. UNGA policy priorities with Honduran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Anibal Quinones (reftels). Quinones indicated that Honduras looked forward to working closely with the U.S. government at the UNGA, especially on Iraq-related issues, cloning, and budget reform. Honduras is slated to receive more than USD 40 million from the UN HIV/AIDS Global Fund, which makes it the largest recipient in Central America. Honduras is also slated to be the UNGA Vice President of the Second Committee, where we expect to work closely with them on Second Committee reform and overall UN budget reform. ¶2. (C) While VM Quinones could only confirm the attendance of Foreign Minister Perez-Cadalso at this time, he asked if it would be possible to arrange a brief meeting between Secretary Powell and FM Perez-Cadalso at the UNGA. He made a SIPDIS direct reference to Honduras being a member of the Coalition of the Willing, its recently approved troop deployment to Iraq and the ratification of the Article 98 agreement. He subsequently told the Ambassador in a separate meeting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been subject to some domestic political criticism on both issues and that the Maduro government would be very vulnerable to opposition party criticism during their troop's deployment in Iraq. ¶3. (C) Comment: Post supports this request for a brief meeting between the Secretary and Foreign Minister. Current military planning calls for the Honduran troops to be fully deployed to the field by September 1. In addition to solidifying Honduran military participation in the reconstruction of Iraq, a brief meeting with the FM would also provide an opportunity for the Secretary to highlight the HIV-AIDS Global Fund's contributions in Latin America and to engage the Honduran government on the need for it to play a leading role in drafting a Cuba human rights resolution at next spring's UNHRC, now that they have won a seat on that body. The meeting would also send a much-needed and strong political boost to the Maduro government and the MFA, both of which have been steadfast in support of key U.S. foreign policy objectives throughout this year. End Comment. Palmer