HONDURAN RESPONSE TO GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIPS

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000561 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC EAID ECIN ECON EFIS EWWT MARR MASS MCAP MOPS, PHSA, PINS, PREL, SENV, SMIG, SNAR, HO SUBJECT: HONDURAN RESPONSE TO GLOBAL MARITIME PARTNERSHIPS (GMP) REF: SECSTATE 50488 ¶1. On June 5, EconOff delivered reftel talking points to Ambassador Eduardo Rosales Ramirez, Foreign Policy Director, Foreign Affairs Ministry. Mr. Rosales was cognizant of the importance of the partnerships and proposed a three-pronged approach on the part of Honduras. First, he would surface the topic at an informal meeting of the Central American countries representatives to a Washington Security Conference on June 8 after consultation with the merchant marine and the navy; second he will consult with Ambassador Roberto Arita Quinonez, head of the Maritime Commission; and third he will bring it up for discussion at a technical security meeting that will take place in El Salvador, immediately following the D.C. meeting. ¶2. He noted that Honduras will be taking over SICA's (Central American Integration System) rotating chairmanship this year and will definitely put the maritime partnerships on the agenda. He solicited the U.S. Government's support for the activities they would propose. FORD