HONDURAS APPROVED FOUR OUTSTANDING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000026 SIPDIS STATE FOR S/CT, L, IO, EB, INL, AND NP STATE FOR WHA, WHA/USOAS, AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER PREL KTIA PARM EAIR EWWT KCRM ASEC HO SUBJECT: HONDURAS APPROVED FOUR OUTSTANDING COUNTERTERRORISM CONVENTIONS/PROTOCOLS IN 2004; DECREES FOR TWO PENDING SIGNATURE AND PUBLICATION IN FEDERAL REGISTER REF: A. STATE 269653 ¶B. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 2656 ¶C. OLSEN/MAKENS E-MAIL 02/03/03 (NOTAL) ¶D. 02 TEGUCIGALPA 3318 ¶1. Summary: During 2004, the GOH ratified two outstanding OAS counterterrorism (CT) conventions and achieved congressional approval of the last two outstanding international conventions/protocols. The GOH is now a party to 10 international and two regional CT conventions and will soon be a party to the last two international conventions/protocols. Persistent efforts by EmbOffs and visiting USG officials urging GOH officials to sign/ratify all outstanding CT conventions have paid off. End Summary. ¶2. While a staunch ally in the War on Terrorism, Honduras had been slow to sign and ratify outstanding counterterrorism (CT) conventions. In late December 2002, the GOH completed all necessary domestic steps to become party to two outstanding CT conventions (ref C). In late October/early November 2003, the GOH completed all necessary domestic steps to become party to three additional CT conventions (ref B). Since then EmbOffs, and visiting USG officials, have continuously raised the CT conventions with President Ricardo Maduro, multiple senior MFA officials, Minister of the Presidency Luis Cosenza, and President of Congress Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo. PolOffs have met and spoken repeatedly with officials in the MFA's Directorate General for Treaties and legal advisors to Cosenza. GOH Ratified Two OAS CT Conventions in 2004 -------------- ¶3. The following two Organization of American States (OAS) CT conventions were approved by Congress in December 2003/January 2004, but it took until February and July respectively for the decrees to be finalized, signed by President Maduro, and published in La Gaceta (the Honduran equivalent of the Federal Register): -- 1971 OAS Convention to Prevent and Punish the Acts of Terrorism Taking the Form of Crimes Against Persons and Related Extortion that are of International Significance (signed by the GOH February 2, 1971),and -- 2002 OAS Convention to Prevent and Punish Acts of Terrorism (signed by the GOH June 3, 2002). Near Ratification of IMO CT Convention and Protocol -------------- -------------- ¶4. The following International Maritime Organization (IMO) CT convention and protocol were approved by Congress in February 2004, but it took until August for the decrees to be completed by the Executive Branch and until late December for the decrees to be approved by Congress. The decrees are currently pending signature by congressional leadership and then will be forwarded for signature by President Maduro and publication in La Gaceta. The convention and protocol are: -- 1988 Convention for the Suppression on Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention), and -- 1988 Protocol for the Suppression on Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (SUA Protocol). Honduras Soon to be Party to All CT Conventions/Protocols -------------- -------------- ¶5. The GOH was already a party to the following 10 international counterterrorism conventions: -- 1963 Tokyo Convention on Offenses and Certain Other Acts Committed Onboard Aircraft -- 1970 Hague Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft -- 1971 Montreal Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Civil Aviation -- 1973 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons -- 1979 Convention Against the Taking of Hostages -- 1980 Convention on the Physical Protection on Nuclear Materials -- 1988 Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Civil Aviation -- 1991 Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection -- 1997 Convention for the Suppression on Terrorist Bombings, and -- 1999 Convention on the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism. ¶6. With the addition of the two aforementioned OAS CT conventions and the upcoming addition of the IMO convention and protocol, the GOH will become party to all 12 international CT conventions and two regional CT conventions. Post will continue to urge the GOH to rapidly sign and publish the last two decrees to bring this process to a close. Palmer