EMBASSY SUPPORTS CSI FOR HONDURAS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000646

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/EPSC AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR EB/TRA (DHAYWOOD)
TREASURY FOR DDOUGLASS
COMMERCE FOR AVANVUREN, MSIEGELMAN
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAM

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EWWT ETRD ECPS EINV PGOV KMCA HO
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SUPPORTS CSI FOR HONDURAS

REF: MANDOJANA/DUNN EMAIL OF 03/14/05


1. Post strongly supports the Government of Honduras,
request to be included in the next tranche of countries
invited to join the Container Security Initiative (CSI). The
GOH has shown an awareness of the importance of maritime
security and demonstrated the political will to take the
necessary steps to improve it. Pursuant to ref A, Post would
welcome an assessment visit at the earliest opportunity by a
Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Patrol
evaluation team.


2. Honduras recognizes the importance of secure maritime
trade, both to facilitate growth and to reassure trade
partners (particularly the U.S.) that its exports pose a low
threat to their national security. Post worked closely with
the GOH in 2003-2004 to ensure that the GOH met the July 2004
International Maritime Organization (IMO) and U.S. Maritime
Transportation Safety Act (MTSA) certification deadline for
port and vessel security. Post organized and supported the
first U.S. Coast Guard inspection in Latin America. Honduras
passed that inspection with flying colors and has been cited
by the USCG for certain best practices in port security.


3. In December 2004, the GOH unilaterally decided to
implement gamma-ray non-intrusive scanning of all
containerized traffic through Puerto Cortes, the largest port
in the Central American region and the 4th ranked in Latin
America in volume shipped to the U.S. The scanning equipment
is already in-country, and operations are scheduled to
commence on May 1, 2005. The equipment, supplied by U.S.
firm Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC),
consists of one portal-style Vehicle and Cargo Inspection
Systems (VACIS) and two mobile (truck-mounted) VACIS. The
equipment has a combined through-put of approximately 1,000
containers per day, comfortably exceeding current needs based
on a 2004 annual port volume of approximately 245,000
import/export movements.


4. Inclusion of Honduras in the CSI program will improve
maritime security, expedite international trade, assist in
counter-narcotics efforts, facilitate implementation of the
Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA),and protect the
security of the U.S. homeland. Improving the security and
efficiency of Puerto Cortes also directly supports the U.S.
foreign aid strategy of promoting economic development in
Honduras through export-led growth. Including Honduras in
the CSI program is fully consistent with key U.S. foreign
policy and national security goals in the region. Post
strongly supports this request.

Palmer

Palmer