HONDURAN RESPONSE TO G-8 FM'S LETTER ON IAEA

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000273 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP/MNA, NP/PPC, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN UNVIE FOR IAEA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP TRGY PREL AORC PARM OPDC HO IAEA SUBJECT: HONDURAN RESPONSE TO G-8 FM'S LETTER ON IAEA ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL: GOH DISCUSSING POSSIBLE AGREEMENT REF: A. 04 TEGUCIGALPA 2872 ¶B. OLSEN/GOODMAN E-MAIL 12/17/04 ¶C. 04 STATE 268619 ¶1. As reported ref A, Embassy delivered the G-8 Foreign Ministers' letter on the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguard Agreements and the Additional Protocol in English (ref C) and Spanish (ref B),under cover letter from the Ambassador, to Minister of Foreign Affairs Leonidas Rosa Bautista in December 2004. The GOH sent an official reply, dated January 13 (but received by the Embassy January 24) stating that internal GOH consultations were ongoing over possible Honduran signature of an Additional Protocol with the IAEA. Post, in conjunction with the Japanese Embassy that has also expressed strong interest in this issue, is following up with MFA officials. PolOff spoke to MFA Director General of Treaties Ivonne Bonilla February 7 to ask for clarification about the status of the GOH consultations. Bonilla said that the MFA was awaiting responses from various GOH ministries tasked to review the draft IAEA Additional Protocol. She pledged to inform the G-8 (via the Embassy) of any significant developments in the GOH process. ¶2. The following is an informal translation of the text of GOH reply. Begin text: No. 11-DT Tegucigalpa, January 13, 2005 Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have the pleasure to address you on the occasion of acknowledging your letter of December 22, 2004, in which you enclose the letter of Secretary of State Collin L. Powell and the Ministers of Foreign Relations of the G-8, asking the Government of Honduras to adhere to the Additional Universal Protocol of Safeguard Measures of Nuclear Materials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In this respect, I have the honor to inform you that Honduras is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the following international instruments as part of organizational bylaws speak to the mentioned participation: ¶1. The Agreement between Honduras and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Relation with the Treaty for the Proscription of Nuclear Arms in Latin America and the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Arms, ratified on May 16, 1973 (NPT). ¶2. Protocol Related to the Agreement between the Republic of Honduras and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the Application of Safeguards in Relation to the Treaty for the Proscription of Nuclear Arms in Latin America and the Non- Proliferation Treaty on Nuclear Arms. ¶3. The Treaty for the Total Prohibition of Nuclear Testing (CTBT) signed on September 25, 1992. In addition, Honduras is a member of OPANAL [Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean] and maintains Safeguard Agreements with NPT, which entered into force on October 31, 1992. With reference to the above, I am pleased to inform you that the necessary consultations will take place with the institutions involved with the matter at hand, so that the procedures necessary for Honduras' adhesion to the protocol ut supra [as above] may take place. I avail myself of the opportunity to express to you the assurances of my highest and distinguished consideration. Leonidas Rosa Bautista Minister of Foreign Relations Excellency Larry L Palmer Ambassador of the United States of America Tegucigalpa End text. Palmer