HONDURAS REQUESTS U.S. SUPPORT FOR HONDURAN

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001916 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/T, IO/UNP, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SCUL SOCI AORC KJUS HO UNESCO UN SUBJECT: HONDURAS REQUESTS U.S. SUPPORT FOR HONDURAN CANDIDATE TO UN INTERNATIONAL LAW COMMISSION IN RETURN FOR GOH SUPPORT FOR U.S. CANDIDACY TO UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE COMMISSION REF: STATE 122739 ¶1. This is an action cable for IO/T. Please see paragraph 4. ¶2. On July 12 Post sent reftel diplomatic note requesting GOH support for the USG candidacy for the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO. Post received vague responses each time the issue was mentioned to the MFA until September 5, when Post received a diplomatic note from the Honduran Foreign Ministry requesting USG support for the Honduran candidate to the UN International Law Commission during elections this fall at UNGA, in return for Honduran support for the U.S. candidacy for the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris in October. ¶3. The Honduran candidate for the UN Commission on International Law (2007-11) is Carlos Lopez Contreras. He was the VP candidate for Mayor of Tegucigalpa Miguel Pastor's unsuccessful National Party primary campaign for the presidential nomination back in February. Lopez Contreras is a former Foreign Minister and current Honduran representative for border issues under consideration at the at International Court of Justice at The Hague. ¶4. Action request for IO/T: Post requests guidance on Post's response to the Honduran suggestion/request. Williard