HONDURAS' RESPONSE FOR COUNTRY REVIEW FOR TITLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000896

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/CEN AND WHA/CCA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: ETRD ETTC PREL CU HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAS' RESPONSE FOR COUNTRY REVIEW FOR TITLE
III SUSPENSION OF LIBERTAD ACT FOR CUBA

REF: A. STATE 65523


B. TEGUCIGALPA 415

Classified By: AMB. CHARLES FORD. REASONS 1.4(d)


1. (U) In response to reftel A, Post's answers regarding the
relationship between Honduras and Cuba follow. Post's answers
track the numbered questions in reftel A.


2. (U) There are no known Honduran companies that have
invested in Cuba, nor are there any bilateral trade
agreements between the two countries.


3. (U) Honduras and Cuba entered into an agreement in 1999
that allows Cuban medical brigades to operate in Honduras and
allocates a number of scholarships for Honduran students to
study at the Escuela Latinoamericano de Medicina (ELAM) in
Havana, Cuba. There are approximately 280 Cuban medical
professionals currently in Honduras, almost all in the rural
and poor areas. Over 700 Honduran medical students have
either studied or are currently studying at ELAM under the
1999 Agreement. In January, Cuba offered another 70 medical
scholarships to Honduran students, the majority of which were
distributed to poorer students, including a third to orphans,
from the outlying departments. Cuba also has 18 teachers
working in a literacy program and has offered to send another
260 if the Government of Honduras (GOH) requests them.


4. (C) The GOH has not worked to promote the advancement of
democracy and human rights in Cuba. Honduras has consistently
voted in favor of the United Nations' resolutions to end the
U.S. embargo against Cuba. The administration of President
Zelaya has taken a stance of avowed neutrality regarding the
Cuban government, failing to condemn human rights abuses or
offering support for democratic change in Cuba, yet not
publicly supporting the Castro government. They have eagerly
accepted Cuban doctors and teachers while sending Honduran
students to study in Cuba. The Honduran ambassador to Cuba,
Juan Ramon Elivr, was selected partially for his sympathy for
Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution (see reftel B).


5. (U) Although Honduras and Cuba restored relations in
December 2002 following a forty-year break, Honduras did not
engage Cuba diplomatically until Honduran Foreign Minister
Milton Jimenez visited Cuba in late December 2006. During
that visit, Minister Jimenez entered into an agreement of
cooperation with the Cuban government in the areas of
education, health and sports, and the two governments began
discussions regarding the settling of their shared maritime
boundary. Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque
reciprocated with a two-day visit to Honduras on February 8 -
March 1. The new Cuban Ambassador close to the Foreign
Minister arrived shortly thereafter.


6. (C) COMMENT. Although President Zelaya is not
ideologically inclined to Cuba's communist regime, many
members of his ruling Liberal Party are, such as Liberal
Party President Patty Rodas. The left wing of the Liberal
Party, led by Rodas, seeks a stronger relationship with Cuba
and will not publicly disparage Cuba's human rights record or
support a change in Cuban government. The Liberal Party "old
guard" is still romantically enchanted with the myth that the
Cuban revolution was a popular uprising of the poor against a
U.S.-supported dictatorship. President Zelaya tends more
towards pragmatism, accepting aid offered by Cuba, but
steering clear of any involvement in internal Cuban issues.
END COMMENT.
FORD