HONDURAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA NOT IN THE OFFING, BUT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002564

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR/AN/IAA, IO/UNP, AND USUN
STATE FOR WHA/CCA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2013
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ETRD CU HO UNGA
SUBJECT: HONDURAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA NOT IN THE OFFING, BUT
MFA SUGGESTS ONE COULD AID HUMAN RIGHTS EFFORTS

REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 2490


B. STATE 297777

Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Palmieri;
reasons 1.5(B) and (D).


1. (U) This is an action request; see paragraph 6.


2. (U) Deputy Chief of Mission and Political Counselor met
with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Anibel Quinones on
October 28 to deliver points in ref B. Quinones was already
aware of USG concerns as raised with Government of Honduras
(GOH) officials in ref A. Quinones added Ambassador
Canahuati had also informed MFA that State Department
officials had raised the issue during the Honduran Minister
of Public Security's visit to Washington during the previous
week.


3. (C) Quinones reiterated that the naming of a Honduran
ambassador to Cuba is not on the immediate agenda of the
Foreign Ministry, nor have they have had any recent
discussion with the President's office on the topic. He did
echo earlier comments (see ref A) that the GOH is concerned
about being able to provide consular services to its 700
Honduran nationals who are studying medicine there. He also
added a new wrinkle, suggesting that the GOH is concerned
about the possible political indoctrination of these medical
students and needs to expand staffing at their offices in
Cuba to monitor better the type of training these students
may be receiving.


4. (C) Quinones stated that at some point Honduras would have
to name an ambassador. He said that they have not received
any pressure from the Cuban Ambassador in Tegucigalpa nor has
there been recent domestic pressure, which has allowed them
to move slowly. He explained, however, that the conclusion
and signing of a maritime boundary treaty with Cuba is a top
priority for the GOH, in part, he claimed, because it will
strengthen their defense against Nicaragua's maritime border
case in The Hague. He added that the GOH is close to
finishing a similar agreement with Mexico and they signed an
agreement with the Cayman Islands and the United Kingdom in

2002. The agreement with Cuba, we learned separately, is
completed. All that is lacking is a signing ceremony.


5. (C) Quinones then asked if he could speculate on a
possible course of action that might serve both countries,
interests. He first made clear that this approach had not
been discussed with either President Maduro or Foreign
Minister Rosa Bautista. As a member of the UN Commission on
Human Rights, he said, Honduras felt it was positioned to
play a key role in advancing the international effort to
press Cuba to live up to its international human rights
commitments. Quinones said that Honduras wanted to use its
time on the UNCHR to promote human rights in the hemisphere.
He asked directly whether it would be helpful to the U.S. to
have a loyal ally in Havana who could help press the human
rights case there. He noted that the current chief of the
U.S. Interests Section, Jim Cason, was favorably known to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs from his earlier posting here,
and imagined that he would be comfortable working closely
with the Honduran mission. Quinones then suggested that the
MFA would seek to name a senior career Honduran diplomat to
the Charge post in Havana. He said this would give Honduras
the necessary level of experienced representation to meet its
consular needs and a seasoned official who could engage more
effectively on human rights issues in Cuba. He added that it
would also delay the need for naming an ambassador. Another
option that he said had been discussed would be to dually
accredit a Honduran Ambassador in another country to Cuba,
although this was not an attractive option.


6. (C) COMMENT: Quinones at one point made it clear that the
GOH and MFA are unhappy with the current Charge in Havana and
wanted to replace him with a more experienced officer. It
appears that they will not be naming an ambassador in the
immediate future but are considering ways to upgrade the
level of representation in Havana. While the GOH,s concern
about its consular services is laudable, we believe that the
GOH is most concerned about finalizing its maritime boundary
treaty with Cuba. Post would appreciate department and US
Interest Section Havana's guidance on how to respond to
Quinones,s idea about the appointment of a more senior MFA
official in the Charge role and interest in working with US
on human rights issues. END COMMENT.

Palmer