EMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA'S 90-DAY GOAL PLANS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001927

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

FOR WHA/AS NORIEGA, WHA/DAS FISK, AND WHA/CEN TRIVELLI FROM
CHARGE PIERCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT PREL HO WHA
SUBJECT: EMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA'S 90-DAY GOAL PLANS

REF: STATE 230096


1. (SBU) Summary: Embassy Tegucigalpa's priority goals for
the next ninety days include: (a) providing current
information on Honduran negotiating strategies on measures
related to CAFTA, to the U.S. delegation to the talks in
order to support their efforts to narrow the gap in U.S.
positions on these subjects; (b) negotiating and signing
either a new Letter of Agreement (LOA) on Narcotics Control
and Law Enforcement with the GOH, or an amendment to the
2000 LOA that will permit the expenditure of FY03 counter-
narcotics assistance money; and (c) negotiating and signing
four new bilateral agreements with the GOH which will
directly support USAID's Central America and Mexico (CAM)
Regional Strategy. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Goal 1: Providing information on Honduran CAFTA
negotiating strategy.
Honduran participation in the CAFTA rounds has been badly
organized and haphazard. Honduran representatives appeared
to be unprepared to discuss the major topics of the recent
rounds. Our efforts will enable the U.S. delegation to
better understand the positions taken by the GOH
representatives to the talks. Having the ability to predict
the position that will be taken by Honduran representatives
will enable this Mission to support the U.S. delegation in
its efforts to narrow the gap in U.S./GOH positions on the
CAFTA subjects.


3. (SBU) Goal 2: Negotiating and signing a new LOA on
Narcotics and Law Enforcement or amending the 2000 LOA.
We estimate that in excess of 100 metric tons of cocaine
transits Honduras destined for the U.S. each year. Cocaine
seizures in recent years have been anemic, although there
have been considerable improvements in 2003. Recent arrests
of prominent figures for drug trafficking and seizures of
large drug shipments have sparked Honduran government
interest in the problems and its desire to enhance its
counter-narcotics performance. By channeling our assistance
properly and improving our working relationship with the
elements responsible for fighting drug trafficking, we
should continue to increase the number of seizures and
amounts of drugs seized.


4. (SBU) Goal 3: Negotiating and signing four new bilateral
agreements to support USAID's Central America and Mexico
Regional Strategy.
Negotiating and signing the bilateral agreements will
directly support the CAM Regional Strategy by providing the
framework for regional and country-specific programs leading
to the achievement of the overarching regional goal of a
more democratic and prosperous Central America and Mexico.
Sharing the benefits of trade-led growth broadly among their
citizens is a central part of this strategy. The Regional
Strategy narrows the focus of USAID's investment to a
limited number of results within performance arenas
established by the President's Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA) and the results selected will prioritize investments
which have the greatest potential for affecting positively
national and regional programs, thus assisting Honduras to
move towards meeting MCA criteria. It also will help put
the region on a faster track towards broad-based prosperity.

PIERCE