HONDURAN PRESIDENT MADURO LEAVES DOOR OPEN ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000503 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CCA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC STATE FOR DRL AND DRL/MLA STATE FOR INR/AN/IAA, IO, AND USUN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2014 TAGS: PHUM PINR PREL KDEM CU HO CHR SUBJECT: HONDURAN PRESIDENT MADURO LEAVES DOOR OPEN ON TAKING LEAD IN DRAFTING UNCHR CUBA RESOLUTION REF: A. PALMER/FISK TELCON 03/01 ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 468 ¶C. TEGUCIGALPA 365 ¶D. TEGUCIGALPA 307 ¶E. STATE 20401 ¶F. STATE 13279 ¶G. 03 STATE 313469 ¶H. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 2866 Classified By: DCM Roger Pierce, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Ambassador met March 1 with Honduran President Ricardo Maduro on the issue of the UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) resolution on Cuba. DCM, Minister of the Presidency Luis Cosenza, and Presidential Advisor Ramon Medina Luna were also present. The meeting followed Ambassador and Political Counselor's February 25 and 26 meetings (respectively) with Cosenza on drafting the resolution (ref B). Although Maduro expressed his support for the U.S. on CUBA and other issues, he reiterated Cosenza's concerns regarding why the GOH was not eager to be the lead sponsor. Specifically, he noted that the GOH: wanted to avoid becoming a target of Cuba; wanted the GOC to continue its medical assistance to Honduras with Cuban doctors in rural areas (despite some concerns the GOH has about the doctors); wanted to conclude a pending convention on maritime borders with Cuba; and, was concerned about a number of social issues percolating which led him to believe that becoming involved in a diplomatic confrontation with CUBA at this moment would give another opening for the political opposition to criticize his administration. ¶2. (C) However, Maduro did not rule out the GOH taking the lead in drafting a resolution, and said that he would be willing to talk to the Secretary about the issue. He noted that if the GOH decided to take the lead in sponsoring the resolution, the GOH wondered whether there might be a possible tangible benefit (unspecified) in return from the USG. Maduro noted that he would be passing through the U.S. on March 8 returning to Honduras from his trip to Spain (he departs Honduras March 2) and that he would be interested in meeting briefly with the President or the Secretary to discuss the UNCHR CUBA resolution and other issues. PALMER