HONDURAS DEMARCHED ON CHAVEZ SOCIAL CHARTER EVENT;

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001776

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/USOAS, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR DRL/MLA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2015
TAGS: SOCI PREL KSUM XL XM HO OAS
SUBJECT: HONDURAS DEMARCHED ON CHAVEZ SOCIAL CHARTER EVENT;
GOH TO BE REPRESENTED BY OAS PERMREP

REF: A. STATE 154693


B. TEGUCIGALPA 408

C. STATE 29142

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i., James G. Williard;
Reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Charge and PolChief delivered August 25 ref A demarche
on the Venezuelan-hosted Social Charter event (schedule for
August 28) and emphasized USG concern to Minister of the
Presidency Ramon Medina Luna and Foreign Minister AMB Mario
Fortin. PolChief noted that USG representation would be at a
low level, if at all. The FM said that the GOH would attend
but would be represented by Honduras OAS PermRep Salvador
Rodezno, and not at the ministerial level. Post suggests
that USOAS discuss U.S. concerns directly with AMB Rodezno.


2. (C) On February 18, the previous FM had voiced to EmbOffs
GOH concern over Venezuela's motivations and potentially
harmful role with respect to the OAS Social Charter (see ref
B). Then-FM Leonidas Rosa Bautista had said at the time that
there were two options - to try to stop the process or to try
to work it for a better outcome. He favored the latter as it
would avoid controversy, especially if a group of countries
took the lead. AMB Fortin, then-Vice Minister, had noted
that the draft charter could be influenced through the
process. Rosa Bautista said the GOH wanted to avoid a direct
confrontation with Venezuela but also did not want an
unfavorable initiative to go forward. Rosa Bautista pledged
to instruct the Honduran OAS PermRep to work with USOAS on
the issue.


3. (C) Minister Medina Luna took the opportunity of the
August 25 discussion on Venezuela to voice again GOH concern
about possible Venezuela coordination with the Cubans in
support of leftist elements within Honduras, including the
leftist Popular Block protest organization. EmbOffs
emphasized that the USG was concerned about any possible
Venezuelan and/or Cuban funding in Honduras and urged the GOH
to share any more specific information they obtained with the
USG.
Williard