Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TEGUCIGALPA1026
2006-06-06 21:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
(C) HONDURAS: ZELAYA MISSED POTUS' POINT ON
how-toVZCZCXRO0012 OO RUEHLMC DE RUEHTG #1026/01 1572102 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 062102Z JUN 06 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2309 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0379 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 6428 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0408
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001026
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR D, E, P, AND WHA
TREASURY FOR JHOEK
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAM
NSC FOR DAN FISK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: EPET PREL ECON ENRG VE HO
SUBJECT: (C) HONDURAS: ZELAYA MISSED POTUS' POINT ON
CHAVEZ; PRESS PLAYS MEETING AS GREEN LIGHT FOR VENEZUELA
DEAL
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 985 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: CDA James Williard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001026
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR D, E, P, AND WHA
TREASURY FOR JHOEK
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAM
NSC FOR DAN FISK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: EPET PREL ECON ENRG VE HO
SUBJECT: (C) HONDURAS: ZELAYA MISSED POTUS' POINT ON
CHAVEZ; PRESS PLAYS MEETING AS GREEN LIGHT FOR VENEZUELA
DEAL
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 985 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: CDA James Williard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: The POTUS/Zelaya meeting on June 5 is being
portrayed in all Honduran press as a USG "green light" for a
GOH deal with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. This misleading spin
makes it easier for the GOH to rationalize making such a deal
(with all the negative consequences that entails),and
undermines Post credibility, by suggesting POTUS does not
support Post's tough stand on PetroCaribe. Post has received
a draft clarification press release from the Honduran Embassy
in Washington stating that at no time did POTUS support
Venezuela. Post will immediately work to ensure the widest
possible distribution of this press release, accompanied as
appropriate by additional background interviews to reinforce
key USG points. End Summary.
2. (C) Contrary to Post's understanding of what was actually
said in the June 5 meeting between Honduran President Jose
Manuel "Mel" Zelaya and POTUS, Zelaya emerged from the
meeting to give extensive remarks that implied USG tacit
support for a GOH deal with Venezuela and President Hugo
Chavez. Whether intended or not (and Post believes it was
intended),Zelaya's remarks were carried by all national and
international press services (including AP and AFP) as a
"green light" for a Honduran deal with Chavez. Front page
headlines in both leading newspapers make this claim, with
National-leaning El Heraldo saying "Bush Does Not Object to
Commercial Deal with Chavez" and Liberal-leaning La Tribuna
going even further with its headline of "Bush Supports
Commercial Deal with Venezuela."
3. (C) Following a call from Post, La Tribuna gave extensive
coverage as well to Ambassador Ford's comments, correctly
interpreting them as "a subtle contradiction" of what
President Zelaya had said. El Heraldo, however, interpreted
the difference as Ambassador Ford "missing" the signal from
POTUS, and wondering aloud if he will be reprimanded by the
Secretary.
SIPDIS
4. (C) Liberal-leaning newspaper Tiempo's headline read
"American Oil Companies Will Participate in Bid
Solicitation." This is also incorrect, since during the
meeting between those companies and President Zelaya, the
companies requested and received promises of a meeting to
discuss the terms of such a bid solicitation process, after
which they would decide if they will participate.
5. (C) Comment: Despite very clear warnings from Post and
from POTUS about the risks of a deal with Chavez, it seems
clear from his remarks that Zelaya remains intent on pushing
forward with his plan. It is unclear if his is a case of
hearing only what he wants to hear, or of grossly
misrepresenting POTUS' remarks for political motives. In
either case, it seems clear to Post that Zelaya seeks to
convince his domestic audience that the USG would be
comfortable with a GOH/GOV deal. This has two, immediate,
sharp repercussions: first, it makes the inking of such a
deal more likely (with all the negative consequences that
implies for warmer GOH relations with Chavez),and second,
this public spin could be used to undermine Post's
credibility, by implying (as El Heraldo has done) that Post's
tough stance on this issue is not supported by Washington.
6. (C) Comment continued: In response to USG concerns over
this issue, Post has received a press statement from the
Honduran Embassy in Washington in which the GOH clarifies
that "At no time did President Bush voice support for
Venezuela. Rather, the USG expressed its respect for the
sovereignty and liberty of the GOH..." Post will conduct
active outreach to all Honduran media outlets to ensure wide
distribution of this statement, accompanied as appropriate by
background briefings reiterating key points of the USG
position. End Comment.
TEGUCIGALP 00001026 002 OF 002
Williard
WILLIARD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EB/ESC, WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN
STATE FOR D, E, P, AND WHA
TREASURY FOR JHOEK
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAM
NSC FOR DAN FISK
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2016
TAGS: EPET PREL ECON ENRG VE HO
SUBJECT: (C) HONDURAS: ZELAYA MISSED POTUS' POINT ON
CHAVEZ; PRESS PLAYS MEETING AS GREEN LIGHT FOR VENEZUELA
DEAL
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 985 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: CDA James Williard for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: The POTUS/Zelaya meeting on June 5 is being
portrayed in all Honduran press as a USG "green light" for a
GOH deal with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. This misleading spin
makes it easier for the GOH to rationalize making such a deal
(with all the negative consequences that entails),and
undermines Post credibility, by suggesting POTUS does not
support Post's tough stand on PetroCaribe. Post has received
a draft clarification press release from the Honduran Embassy
in Washington stating that at no time did POTUS support
Venezuela. Post will immediately work to ensure the widest
possible distribution of this press release, accompanied as
appropriate by additional background interviews to reinforce
key USG points. End Summary.
2. (C) Contrary to Post's understanding of what was actually
said in the June 5 meeting between Honduran President Jose
Manuel "Mel" Zelaya and POTUS, Zelaya emerged from the
meeting to give extensive remarks that implied USG tacit
support for a GOH deal with Venezuela and President Hugo
Chavez. Whether intended or not (and Post believes it was
intended),Zelaya's remarks were carried by all national and
international press services (including AP and AFP) as a
"green light" for a Honduran deal with Chavez. Front page
headlines in both leading newspapers make this claim, with
National-leaning El Heraldo saying "Bush Does Not Object to
Commercial Deal with Chavez" and Liberal-leaning La Tribuna
going even further with its headline of "Bush Supports
Commercial Deal with Venezuela."
3. (C) Following a call from Post, La Tribuna gave extensive
coverage as well to Ambassador Ford's comments, correctly
interpreting them as "a subtle contradiction" of what
President Zelaya had said. El Heraldo, however, interpreted
the difference as Ambassador Ford "missing" the signal from
POTUS, and wondering aloud if he will be reprimanded by the
Secretary.
SIPDIS
4. (C) Liberal-leaning newspaper Tiempo's headline read
"American Oil Companies Will Participate in Bid
Solicitation." This is also incorrect, since during the
meeting between those companies and President Zelaya, the
companies requested and received promises of a meeting to
discuss the terms of such a bid solicitation process, after
which they would decide if they will participate.
5. (C) Comment: Despite very clear warnings from Post and
from POTUS about the risks of a deal with Chavez, it seems
clear from his remarks that Zelaya remains intent on pushing
forward with his plan. It is unclear if his is a case of
hearing only what he wants to hear, or of grossly
misrepresenting POTUS' remarks for political motives. In
either case, it seems clear to Post that Zelaya seeks to
convince his domestic audience that the USG would be
comfortable with a GOH/GOV deal. This has two, immediate,
sharp repercussions: first, it makes the inking of such a
deal more likely (with all the negative consequences that
implies for warmer GOH relations with Chavez),and second,
this public spin could be used to undermine Post's
credibility, by implying (as El Heraldo has done) that Post's
tough stance on this issue is not supported by Washington.
6. (C) Comment continued: In response to USG concerns over
this issue, Post has received a press statement from the
Honduran Embassy in Washington in which the GOH clarifies
that "At no time did President Bush voice support for
Venezuela. Rather, the USG expressed its respect for the
sovereignty and liberty of the GOH..." Post will conduct
active outreach to all Honduran media outlets to ensure wide
distribution of this statement, accompanied as appropriate by
background briefings reiterating key points of the USG
position. End Comment.
TEGUCIGALP 00001026 002 OF 002
Williard
WILLIARD