BIO OF HONDURAN FIRST LADY AGUAS OCANA DE MADURO

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002718 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN AND INR/B E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2013 TAGS: PINR PREL HO SUBJECT: BIO OF HONDURAN FIRST LADY AGUAS OCANA DE MADURO ¶1. (SBU) Aguas Ocana, the first lady of Honduras, married President Ricardo Maduro on October 10, 2002. It is her first marriage and his second. Born on April 29, 1963 in Sevilla, Spain, Ocana was the former counselor of the Spanish embassy in Tegucigalpa. Ocana first earned the Spanish equivalent of a bachelor's degree in accounting, and later went on to study law. She is a dynamic, self-confident woman that displays a passion for children, women, and the elderly. While these types of issues are normally associated with her formal position, Ocana genuinely seems to be interested in promoting social development in Honduras. ¶2. (SBU) Currently, her efforts are focused on reforming adoption laws in order to eradicate irregularities in the adoption process, as well as make it easier for foreigners to adopt Honduran children. Ocana herself is in the process of adopting two Honduran children, Milady and Kevin, for whom she has written custody from the parents that allows her to travel with them. ¶3. (C) Ocana has a strong personality and does not hesitate to insert herself into the inner-workings of GOH politics. She has publicly clashed with a number of GOH officials, much to Maduro's chagrin, who would prefer that she keep a lower political profile. ¶4. (SBU) Earlier this summer, Ocana returned to her native Spain on "personal business." This period of estrangement from her husband had been exacerbated by comments Ocana made to the press about Maduro's ex-fiancee, and current Minister of Culture, Mireya Batres. Ocana's public remarks came at a price. Cesar Batres, the father of Mireya and close personal friend to Maduro, resigned his position as legal advisor to the president on land issues due to the controversy. Minister Batres did not resign. Palmer