HONDURAN FM TELLS AMBASSADOR GOH WILL ANNOUNCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000741

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CCA, WHA/CEN, AND WHA/PPC
STATE FOR DRL, DRL/MLA, IO, AND INR/AN/IAA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/30/2014
TAGS: PHUM PREL PINR KDEM CU HO CHR
SUBJECT: HONDURAN FM TELLS AMBASSADOR GOH WILL ANNOUNCE
MARCH 31 ITS DECISION TO TABLE UNCHR CUBA RESOLUTION

REF: A. TRIVELLI/PIERCE E-MAILS 03/30


B. TEGUCIGALPA 738

C. GENEVA 885

D. ZUNIGA/SIBILLA/KELLY/PIERCE E-MAIL 3/26

E. STATE 68031

F. STATE 65652

G. STATE 62815

H. TEGUCIGALPA 595 AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: Ambassador Larry Palmer;
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Ambassador spoke March 30 with Honduran Foreign
Minister Leonidas Rosa Bautista to seek confirmation of
Honduran Ambassador Mario Canahuati's statement to WHA Acting
DAS Trivelli that the GOH would publicly announce its
decision to table a UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR)
resolution on Cuba on March 31 (ref A). The FM assured the
Ambassador that on March 31 the MFA would announce its
decision to table a resolution and issue instructions for its
Geneva Mission, led by PermRep Benjamin Zapata, to seek
co-sponsors.

Only Criticism is from Cubans
--------------


2. (C) The UNCHR Cuba resolution is not (at the moment) a
political issue in Honduras. There have been no statements
by the opposition Liberal Party on this issue. In fact,
press coverage of this issue has been heaviest in the
Nationalist-leaning newspaper "El Heraldo." The Cuban
Ambassador to Honduras, Alberto Polanco Gonzalez, has been
vocal in his criticism, and Post believes it is likely that
the Popular Block will oppose the GOH's decision once it is
announced.
PALMER