Honduras: ECA Postponement Demarche Delivered

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002237

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR WHA/CEN, DRL/IL, AND EB/TPP/ABT
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR
DOL FOR ILAB
GUATEMALA FOR AGATT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EIND ELAB PGOV HO
SUBJECT: Honduras: ECA Postponement Demarche Delivered

REF: A. State 210862


B. Hastings-Link e-mails


1. (U) EconOff received ref A talking points by e-mail (ref
B) on September 24, and delivered them on September 27 to
Gerardo Salgado, Vice Minister for Natural Resources and
Energy in the Minstry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Salgado serves as acting Minister when Minister Panting is
out of the country, as she was at the time, having not yet
returned from Washington.


2. (SBU) Salgado was aware that the signing ceremony for the
Environmental Cooperation Agreement had been cancelled, but
had not received a full account of the reasons why. He
therefore appreciated our explanation of the situation, and
was pleased to hear of our continued commitment to the ECA.
He also expressed surprise that the dispute with the
Dominican Republic over the tax on high fructose corn syrup
was serious enough as to place the DR's very inclusion in
CAFTA in doubt.


3. (SBU) The conversation then turned to CAFTA and
environmental issues more generally. In particular, Salgado
asked EconOff for advice in what the GOH can do to improve
its image in the United States regarding environmental
regulation. Salgado says he regularly receives e-mails from
environmental NGOs in the United States which are opposed to
CAFTA, and which publicize what he described as "lies or
half-truths" about Honduran environmental laws and their
enforcement. Salgado expressed frustration that he cannot
effectively counter these views and tell "the other side of
the story", as he has no contact with pro-CAFTA
environmental groups (if such exist) to weigh in on the
other side. EconOff replied that the Honduran embassy in
Washington is naturally leading the effort of public
relations for Honduras in the run-up to CAFTA ratification,
but Post would welcome a wider discussion on this issue,
including further ideas from Washington or other embassies
in the region.

Pierce