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