HONDURAS WANTS TO TRADE VOTES FOR ICTY CANDIDACIES

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002524

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR IO/UNP, IO/SHA, S/WCI, L/UNA, AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KJUS KAWC AORC HO UNGA
SUBJECT: HONDURAS WANTS TO TRADE VOTES FOR ICTY CANDIDACIES

REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 2382


B. STATE 218465

C. OLSEN/PATEL E-MAIL 10/20/04

D. TEGUCIGALPA 2288

E. OLSEN/IO/SHA FAX 10/08/04

F. GENEVA 2780 (NOTAL)


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see para. 4.


2. (SBU) Post received a diplomatic note from the Honduran
Foreign Ministry in response to Post's diplomatic note
regarding the candidacy of Theodor Meron for re-election to
the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
(ICTY) at elections to be held in New York during the 59th
General Assembly in November 2004 (refs A-C). The dip note
suggested an exchange of votes, with the GOH voting for Meron
and the USG voting for Honduran candidate Dr. Rigoberto
Espinal Irias (refs D-F).


3. (SBU) PolOff told MFA DG for Foreign Policy AMB Mario
Fortin November 8 that the USG does not generally announce
its vote for prior to an election, but that Post would
forward the request to the Department for consideration.


4. (SBU) Action request for IO: Please provide guidance on
how Post should respond to the GOH's suggestion of an
exchange of votes for ICTY candidacies.
Pierce