HONDURAS RECEPTIVE TO CASH COURIER INITIATIVE

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001856

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR S/CT, WHA AND EEB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC PREL PTER ASEC
SUBJECT: HONDURAS RECEPTIVE TO CASH COURIER INITIATIVE

REF: SECSTATE 161166


1. Econoff delivered reftel demarche November 29 to
Ambassador Roberto Ramos Bustos, head of the office of
Special Affairs at the Honduran Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ramos was enthusiastic about the U.S. proposal and said
Honduras shares the U.S. and G-8 concerns about cash
smuggling and other forms of illicit financing transfers.
Ramos promised to pass the white paper to the Honduran
Ambassador to the OAS, Carlos Sosa Coello, and will encourge
the Honduran delegation at the March CICTE meeting to support
the Global Strategy Against Cash Couriers and incorporate
elements of the initiative into the Honduran proposal. Ramos
underscored Honduras is committed to upholding its
international treaty obligations on illicit financing and
terrorist financing, pointing to the Palermo Treaty on
Organized Crime, and other UN agreements. He noted that
Honduras is attempting to reform its money laundering law to
conform more closely to international standards, as well as
criminalize terrorist financing.


2. Post also passed an informational copy of the white paper
to the Minister Armando Saramiento, head of the Honduran Tax
Authority. Saramiento oversees the Honduran Customs
Authority, which would largely be responsible for
implementation of the initiative once it is adopted.
FORD