TEGUCIGALPA RESPONSE TO INVITATION TO ATTEND PSI

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002551

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

OSD FOR DIRECTOR OF NONPROLIFERATION POLICY (DCOOPER)
STATE FOR NP/RA (JKROFT) AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL HO
SUBJECT: TEGUCIGALPA RESPONSE TO INVITATION TO ATTEND PSI
EXERCISE

REF: SECSTATE 232102


1. (SBU) On October 29, Post delivered reftel non-paper to
both MFA DG for Foreign Policy AMB Mario Fortin and MOD
Federico Breve regarding the upcoming November 16-18
multilateral maritime exercise in the Caribbean designed to
test U.S. and PSI partners' ability to detect, track and
intercept the shipment of WMD, their delivery systems, and
related materials. On November 4, Post was contacted by
Commander of the Honduran Navy Jose Eduardo Espinal, who
expressed interest in having the Honduran Armed Forces (HOAF)
represented at the exercise. Post provided Commander Espinal
with the contact information listed in reftel.


2. (SBU) While the HOAF has an interest in attending the
exercise, GOH funding for the necessary travel may not be
available. Post has no available funds to assist and MILGP
was unsuccessful in exploring other funding options. The GOH
has yet to formally respond to the invitation. Given the
problematic funding issue, Post is not optimistic that the
GOH will be able to attend the exercise.
Palmer