HONDURAN VICE FM GIVES EMBASSY WEAK DRAFT UNCHR

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000595 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CCA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC STATE FOR DRL AND DRL/MLA, IO, AND INR/AN/IAA E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/12/2014 TAGS: PHUM PINR PREL KDEM CU HO CHR SUBJECT: HONDURAN VICE FM GIVES EMBASSY WEAK DRAFT UNCHR CUBA RESOLUTION REF: A. PALMER/NORIEGA TELCON 03/12 ¶B. PALMER/FISK TELCON 03/12 ¶C. FISK/PIERCE TELCON 03/12 ¶D. STATE 54952 ¶E. TEGUCIGALPA 574 ¶F. TEGUCIGALPA 531 ¶G. TEGUCIGALPA 503 ¶H. TEGUCIGALPA 468 ¶I. TEGUCIGALPA 365 ¶J. TEGUCIGALPA 307 ¶K. STATE 20401 ¶L. STATE 13279 (ALL NOTAL) Classified By: Ambassador Larry Palmer; Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) DCM and PolOffs met March 12 with Vice Foreign Minister Anibal Quinonez, MFA Senior Advisor Policarpo Callejas, and Legal Advisor to the FM Carlos Lopez Contreras (a former FM himself) to receive the first Honduran draft of a UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) resolution on Cuba. Quinonez noted that, as stated by President Ricardo Maduro in his meeting with the Secretary March 9 (ref D),the Honduran draft was a moderate document compared to past resolutions and was not as strong as the U.S. would prefer. However, MFA officials noted that the mere act of sponsoring a Cuba resolution would be seen as an act of aggression by the GOC. ¶2. (C) DCM and PolOffs quickly reviewed the draft resolution and noted that the draft made no mention of the crackdown on dissidents, journalists, and others in Cuba since the 2003 UNCHR resolution on Cuba. MFA officials said that the GOH wants to try to maintain good relations with Cuba, for now and for post-Castro. ¶3. (C) EmbOffs emphasized that the resolution needed to be ready to be tabled in Geneva March 15, noting that the resolution would likely be discussed at a planned March 15 meeting in Washington between U/S Grossman and Ambassadors from UNCHR member countries. MFA officials said early GRULAC co-sponsors were key, noting that the Central American countries discussed the possibility of a common position on the resolution during their meetings in Spain (ref D),but said they had failed to come to a consensus. A resolution seen as too strong by some countries would be seen as too weak by others. Lopez Contreras said that if the resolution was too strong Honduras would not sponsor it nor would it stand a good chance of being adopted in Geneva. ¶4. (C) EmbOffs indicated they would seek immediate guidance from the Department on the draft text and get back to the GOH with comments ASAP. Quinonez said he was prepared to discuss the text further, but noted that the draft text had been approved by President Maduro and that changing the text would require his approval. ¶5. (C) As EmbOffs were leaving the MFA, they passed Foreign Minister Leonidas Rosa Bautista who said that, if we were not satisfied with the draft resolution, we should push for changes. He implied that MFA lawyers had come up with the text, but the language could be changed by the political leadership. ¶6. (SBU) Post has faxed the draft resolution to WHA/CEN and WHA/CCA. ¶7. (C) Comment: As noted in ref C, career MFA officials are strongly opposed to drafting a resolution and their first draft is an extremely weak resolution. Post seeks desired resolution text from the Department, which Ambassador will present directly to President Maduro in an attempt to obtain his approval. End Comment. PALMER