HONDURAN VICE FM REITERATES CONCERNS ON TAKING LEAD IN DRAFTING UNCHR CUBA RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000531



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: 03/04/2014

TAGS: PHUM, PINR, PREL, KDEM, CU, HO, CHR-1

SUBJECT: HONDURAN VICE FM REITERATES CONCERNS ON TAKING

LEAD IN DRAFTING UNCHR CUBA RESOLUTION



REF: A. WAGNER/PIERCE TELCON 03/04



B. MADRID 735

C. STATE 47065

D. TEGUCIGALPA 503

E. PALMER/FISK TELCON 03/01

F. TEGUCIGALPA 468

G. TEGUCIGALPA 365

H. TEGUCIGALPA 307

I. STATE 20401

J. STATE 13279

K. 03 STATE 313469

L. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 2866 (ALL NOTAL)



Classified By: DCM Roger Pierce, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).



1. (C) At the MFA's request, DCM and PolOff met March 3 with

Vice Foreign Minister Anibal Quinonez, MFA Senior Advisor

Policarpo Callejas, and MFA DG for Foreign Policy AMB Mario

Fortin on the issue of the UN Commission on Human Rights

(UNCHR) resolution on Cuba. The meeting followed Ambassador

and DCM's March 1 meeting with President Ricardo Maduro and

Minister of the Presidency Luis Cosenza and Presidential

Advisor Ramon Medina Luna (ref D) and Ambassador and

Political Counselor's February 25 and 26 meetings

(respectively) with Cosenza on drafting the resolution (ref

F). Quinonez said he had requested the meeting to discuss

the status of the USG's request for Honduras to take the lead

on drafting the resolution. DCM underlined that this

resolution was a high priority for the USG and stated that

the USG was still looking to the GOH to step up and take the

lead on drafting the resolution. DCM mentioned the call

between WHA A/S Noriega and FM Leonidas Rosa Bautista on the

issue and noted the probability of a call from the Secretary

to President Maduro.



2. (C) Quinonez said that the final decision on drafting the

resolution was for Maduro to make and that the door was still

open. He said the MFA was preparing a list of the pros and

cons of drafting the resolution for Maduro. Quinonez then

reiterated Maduro and 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) and scholarships for

Hondurans to study medicine in Cuba; wanted to conclude a

pending convention on maritime borders with Cuba; and, was

concerned about a number of percolating social issues which

led the GOH 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. Key among these issues for the MFA appeared

to be the maritime border issue, with Callejas specifically

stating that the GOH wanted this agreement signed and

ratified prior to Castro's death.



3. (C) DCM emphasized that the USG was looking to have this

issue resolved ASAP, so that a resolution would be ready to

be introduced when the CHR opens March 15.



4. (C) Post understands that the Secretary spoke to President

Maduro on March 4 and that they agreed to meet in Washington

on Maduro's return trip from Spain. Post will work closely

with WHA/CEN and the GOH on the details surrounding this

planned meeting.

PALMER