CNIES INFORMATION SHARING AGREEMENT UPDATE:

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 002636

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/LP AND L/LEI
STATE FOR WHA/PPC AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2014
TAGS: SNAR MOPS EAIR PREL HO
SUBJECT: CNIES INFORMATION SHARING AGREEMENT UPDATE:
HONDURAS TRYING TO MEET DECEMBER 1 DEADLINE

REF: A. SECSTATE 242242

B. TEGUCIGALPA 2418

C. SECSTATE 209663

Classified By: Political Counselor Francisco Palmieri;
reasons 1.4(b) and (d).


1. (SBU) Post remains optimistic that the Government of
Honduras (GOH) will respond positively by the December 1
deadline for completing a CNIES information sharing agreement
via an exchange of diplomatic notes with the U.S. (ref B).
Post's optimism is based on informal feedback from Minister
of Defense Federico Breve and Minister of Foreign Affairs
Leonidas Rosa Bautista; however, during a November 12
follow-up meeting between PolCouns and MFA Director General
for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Mario Fortin, Fortin informed
PolCouns that since the proposed agreement deals with
counternarcotics efforts, it must first be approved by
Honduras' National Counternarcotics Council ("Consejo
Nacional Contra Narcotrafico" or CNCN).


2. (C) The CNCN, Honduras' counternarcotics oversight body,
is headed by Vice President Armida de Lopez Contreras, wife
of former FM Carlos Lopez Contreras. Recently she delayed
for more that six months the signing of our FY 2004
counternarcotics LOA when she insisted on substantive changes
to INL's standard provisions, such as eliminating the human
rights and narcotics vetting language. This CNCN clearance
could delay the process.


3. (SBU) DG Fortin indicated to PolOff that getting CNCN
approval would not be a significant obstacle to final GOH
approval. Post still believes the GOH will respond in a
positive manner and will continue to pressure senior MOD and
MFA officials to move quickly. In fact, on November 22, DG
Fortin contacted PolOff requesting a floppy disk with the
CNIES required language so that the MFA could expedite the
clearance process for a GOH diplomatic note. Post believes
the GOH will meet the December 1 deadline. However, we
believe it prudent to extend that deadline to December 15 to
allow the MFA bureaucracy time to produce the required
exchange of diplomatic notes.
Palmer