Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TEGUCIGALPA1614
2007-10-03 20:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

HONDURAN PRESIDENT ZELAYA'S TRIP TO CUBA OCTOBER 9

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL CU NI HN 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001614 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CU NI HN
SUBJECT: HONDURAN PRESIDENT ZELAYA'S TRIP TO CUBA OCTOBER 9


Classified By: Charge d'affaires, Jim Williard, reasons 1.4 (b and d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001614

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL CU NI HN
SUBJECT: HONDURAN PRESIDENT ZELAYA'S TRIP TO CUBA OCTOBER 9


Classified By: Charge d'affaires, Jim Williard, reasons 1.4 (b and d)


1. (C) Summary: On October 9, Honduran President Zelaya will
travel to Cuba to sign a maritime delimitation treaty with
the GOC. FM Milton Jimenez told Polcouns on October 2 that
the President chose to travel October 9 instead of October 8
because they did not want to be manipulated into
participating in local "Che Guevara Day" celebrations in
Havana. Jimenez said that twice he has raised with Cuban FM
Perez Roque the idea of Honduras serving as an informal
channel of communication between the USG and GOC, and would
be willing to ask Perez Roque again following the conclusion
of the negotiations. Jimenez also said that after the
negotiations are concluded, he would be willing to reconsider
the role the Honduran Embassy plays in Havana, and possibly
consider being more open to civil society. End Summary.


2. (C) On October 2, Honduran FM Milton Jimenez invited new
Polcouns to his office for a courtesy call, but the main
topic of conversation centered on Cuba. Jimenez told us that
although he was a leftist as a University student, he is not
a communist, and does not like what is going on in Cuba
today. He recounted that he had traveled to Cuba as a young
man for tourism, and then once again as a government
representative, but only to official meetings, and admitted
he had never seen the "real Cuba." Jimenez told us that
President Zelaya will travel to Cuba on October 9 to engage
in maritime border discussions with the GOC, and was very
pleased that in his last meeting with A/S Shannon, Shannon
had expressed his understanding that the trip was necessary.
Jimenez told us Zelaya will travel on October 9 instead of
October 8, as announced, because the International Court of
Justice decision on the Maritime border dispute between
Honduras and Nicaragua will be handed down on the October 8,
and he does not want to be in Cuba when it is handed down.
He would like to be with Ortega when the decision is
announced, so that they can shake hands and present a
civilized demeanor to their people. But the real reason, he
confided, that Zelaya will not travel to Cuba on October 8,
is that they discovered it is "Che Guevara Day" in Cuba, and
they did not want to be forced into participating in local
celebrations or otherwise have their presence manipulated by
the Cuban government.


3. (C) Jimenez said that in previous meetings with Cuban FM
Perez Roque, he has raised the possibility of Honduras
serving as a channel of communication between the USG and
GOC. Perez apparently did not discount the idea, and seemed
amenable to considering the proposal. Following the signing
of the delimitation treaty, Jimenez said he would like to
present the idea to Perez again. Jimenez also said the GOH
would be reevaluating the role their Embassy plays in Cuba
once the deal is signed. Polcouns said this reevaluation
would be positively received in Washington, and suggested
they could consider being more open to meeting with civil
society. Jimenez agreed this was a good idea.


4. (C) Comment: The FM is trying desperately to rebuild
strained relations, as the Zelaya administration had been
increasingly isolating itself in recent months. Zelaya told
the Ambassador in late September that he would like to
re-start their weekly meetings, and now the FM is reaching
out to the newly arrived Polcouns. The expressed openness to
"reevaluating" their Embassy's mission in Havana is a first,
and USINT should consider getting to know the Honduran
representative after the negotiations are completed. Post
requests Washington guidance on whether to pursue the GOH
invitation to serve as a channel of communication with the
GOC.
WILLIARD