REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO SIGN LOA AMMENDMENT TEXT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 002097

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/RM, INL/LP, G/TIP, AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM PHUM KWMN SMIG AFIN HO
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO SIGN LOA AMMENDMENT TEXT
ON TIP AND PROVIDE ADVICE OF ALLOTMENT



1. Post requests INL approval of the following LOA
Amendment text on trafficking in persons (TIP). Post
tentatively would like to sign this LOA with the
Government of Honduras (GOH) on September 24, 2004.
Please provide approval of text, advice of allotment, and
authorization to sign.


2. Begin proposed text of LOA Amendment.

MODIFICATION/AMENDMENT TO THE LETTER OF AGREEMENT ON
NARCOTICS CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OF June 17, 2003
BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AND THE GOVERNMENT OF HONDURAS


I. GENERAL

The Government of the United States of America (USG),
represented by Ambassador Larry Palmer, and the Government
of Honduras, represented by Minister of Public Security,
Oscar Arturo Alvarez, (each individually, a "Party." Or
collectively, the Parties") jointly agree to modify and
amend the letter of agreement between the USG and the
Government of Honduras, signed June 17, 2003 (the
"Agreement") in the following respect:

To provide additional funds in the amount specified in the
cover sheet ($320,000) to establish and support with
technical assistance, training, equipment and supplies
projects designed to develop, enhance and improve law
enforcement and other projects in the efforts against
trafficking in persons (TIP).

The full project description and project goals are
described in Sections II and III below. All other
obligations, terms, and conditions contained in the letter
of agreement dated June 17, 2003 shall remain applicable
and in full force and effect.

II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This project is designed to facilitate strengthened
Honduran trafficking in persons laws, institutionalization
of a specific police investigative unit working in
cooperation with prosecutors and judges focused on TIP and
TIP related crimes, and a public awareness campaign that
will help bring the justice sector and NGO community
closer together in the fight against trafficking in
persons. Toward that goal, the USG and the Government of
Honduras will take actions and commit resources on an
annual basis as authorized by their respective legislative
processes to support this effort.

Actions to be taken include retaining the services of
expert consultants and instructors to travel to Honduras
to train and provide technical assistance in the area of
TIP cases, facilitating regional TIP conference for
investigators, purchase of equipment and supplies needed
to improve the effectiveness of the TIP investigative unit
and TIP prosecutors, as well as community projects to
better inform local communities of the dangers of these
types of crime.

The planned life of this project is two years, following
which time the Ministry of Public Security will have
developed a strong working partnership with the Public
Ministry and other investigative elements of the
Government of Honduras and trafficking in persons crimes
will be routinely presented for prosecution in accordance
with the Criminal Procedure Code, and the evidence
presented by the Ministry of Public Security and Public
Ministry will be of a heightened standard to effectively
prosecute TIP criminal activity.

Provision of USG grant funding beyond the current fiscal
year is conditioned upon satisfactory progress toward
project goals and the availability of funds authorized and
appropriated on a year-to-year basis by the U.S. Congress
and approved by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau for
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

III. Project Goal and Achievement Verification

The specifics goals of this project are: (1) establishment
and institutionalization of the Ministry of Public
Security TIP investigative unit; (2) provision of
technical assistance and training to the Ministry of
Public Security and the Public Ministry in TIP related
cases according to the most recent anti-TIP laws of
Honduras; (3) provision of a well defined public awareness
campaign that will reach the population that is most
vulnerable to TIP crimes.

Progress toward achievement of the project goal will be
measured in terms of qualitative and quantitative
indicators, including: (1) implementation and
institutionalization of the Ministry of Public Security
TIP investigative unit evidenced by the inclusion of this
unit in the Honduran FY 2005 budget indicating full
support for the unit; (2) based on previous years data, a
15 percent increase in TIP and TIP-related cases which are
investigated and brought to prosecution jointly in a task
force environment by the Ministry of Public Security
specialized units, the Public Ministry and other GOH Law
enforcement agencies; and (3) implementation of a public
information campaign which focuses on the providing a
defined public awareness of the dangers of TIP crimes in
the form of a nationwide media campaign which will be
accessible to persons most susceptible to TIP related
crimes.

Done in duplicate at Tegucigalpa, Honduras, this
28th day of September of 2004, in English and Spanish
languages, both texts being equally authentic.

For the Government of the For the Government of
United States of America Honduras

_________________________ ________________________
Ambassador Larry Palmer Minister Oscar A. Alvarez


End text.

Palmer