(U) ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON,S SEPARATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 101367

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/23/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR HO VT IT PA XK GT
SUBJECT: (U) ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHANNON,S SEPARATE
MEETINGS WITH ITALIAN SECRETARY OF STATE ENZO SCOTTI,
GUATEMALAN FOREIGN MINISTER HAROLDO RODAS, AND PARAGUAYAN
FOREIGN MINISTER HECTOR LACOGNATA ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2009.

Classified By: Assistant Secretary Thomas A. Shannon. Reason: 1.4 (d)


1. (U) September 23, 2009; various times; New York, USA.



2. (C) SUMMARY. In separate meetings with Italian Secretary
of State Ezno Scotti, Guatemalan Foreign Minister Haroldo
Rodas, and Paraguayan FM Hector Lacognata, Assistant
Secretary Shannon described the current state of affairs in
Honduras following President Zelaya's surprise return to the
capital, Tegucigalpa. A/S Shannon noted Zelaya's return may
offer opportunities to resolve the crisis and promoted an OAS
foreign ministers delegation as a possible means to end any
street violence and bring the Zelaya and Micheletti to the
bargaining table. Now that Zelaya has returned to Honduras,
A/S Shannon stated that Zelaya should follow through on his
commitment to Secretary Clinton that he will sign the Accord
in Tegucigalpa. He also expressed hope that we will soon be
able to move beyond the Honduras crisis and on to broader and
more positive issues.


3. (C) Scotti asked about the military's role in the coup,
inquired about opportunities for the Catholic Church to be
constructive, and admitted Europeans were unsure how to keep
pressure on Micheletti while allowing room for
internationally recognized presidential elections come
November. Rodas expressed grave concern for the regional
instability that could result from the crisis, noted support
for an OAS mission, and asked whether a high-level American
could participate. He also undertook to reach out to the
Guatemalan military and urge engagement with Honduran
military leaders to encourage restraint. Lacognata raised
separate issues with A/S Shannon, including the U.S.-Colombia
Defense Cooperation Agreement and Paraguay's decision to
terminate the Nuevo Horizonte joint cooperation program with
the U.S. Department of Defense. END SUMMARY.

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Honduras - Next Steps: OAS Mission; Elections?
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4. (C) A/S Shannon said U.S. Ambassador to Honduras Hugo
Llorens warned military leaders and the de facto defense and
security ministers against storming the Brazilian embassy,
where Zelaya had sought refuge. A/S Shannon noted the de
factos received the message and understood grave consequences
could follow; the de factos refrained from moving against the
Brazilian mission.


5. (C) A/S Shannon promoted an OAS foreign ministers
delegation as one solution to the crisis. The mission's goal
would be twofold: to (1) prevent violence in the streets from
escalating and (2) encourage the two parties to reach a
negotiated settlement. A/S Shannon said the OAS mission also
should address the de factos' main concern - paving the way
to November elections. He noted recent events had made it
harder for the de facto government to assert that elections
would take place under normal conditions. The de facto
government has touted the elections as a way to resolve the
crisis, but election campaigns cannot take place when curfews
shutter people in their homes and tear gas wafts through the
air.

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Scotti
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6. (C) Scotti wondered whether the Catholic Church could
play a constructive role. A/S Shannon explained the Catholic
Church could be helpful provided its role is not one-sided.
Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez committed his support early on for
the de factos, but has since backed away from this stance.
A/S Shannon reported PDAS Craig Kelly met September 22 with
the Papal Nuncio regarding the crisis. The Vatican has
stated publically it does not support the coup. Scotti said
Europe was unsure of how to pressure the de factos to accept
the San Jose Accord while at the same time allowing room for
the possibility of elections in November.

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Rodas

STATE 00101367 002 OF 002



7. (SBU) Rodas expressed grave concern regarding the current
state of affairs and for the instability it could bring to
the entire region, but said he was hopeful that Zelaya's
return could be an opportunity to resolve the crisis. He
explained that he had recently met with leaders of the
Honduran Chamber of Industry and reported that they see the
November elections as the only possible solution. Where the
industry leaders differ is the means by which we reach the
elections, with some expressing support for the San Jose
Accord and others standing firm in their opposition to
Zelaya's reinstatement.


8. (C) Rodas affirmed strong Guatemalan support for an OAS
foreign ministers mission to Honduras and suggested a broad
delegation that would include countries such as Brazil,
Guatemala, and the United States. He also suggested Spanish
participation. A/S Shannon stated that we would consider
U.S. participation and noted that an OAS mission could serve
as the basis for an eventual OAS electoral observation
mission.


9. (C) Stressing that powerful forces are at work in
Honduras and that similar issues confront other Central
American countries, Rodas asserted that Nicaragua could soon
experience a comparable crisis. A/S Shannon noted concern
about possible Honduran military actions and asked if the
Guatemalan military could reach out to their counterparts to
encourage restraint. Rodas promised to discuss this with
Guatemalan military leadership. He concluded by stating that
we can count on Guatemalan cooperation in finding a solution
to the Honduran dilemma.

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Lagocnata
--------------


10. (SBU) A/S Shannon reiterated U.S. support for President
Lugo's administration, noting the positive interactions
between the United States and Paraguay. A/S Shannon
applauded Paraguay's important stabilizing role in the region
and expressed gratitude for Paraguay's level-headed comments
on both the U.S.-Colombia Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA)
and the Honduras crisis. A/S Shannon noted the United States
benefited from hearing Paraguay's perspectives on these
issues.


11. (C) FM Lacognata explained the reasons behind
terminating the Nuevo Horizonte joint military operation with
the U.S. Department of Defense, but noted there were at least
five other cooperative activities taking place. He
highlighted Paraguay's unique historical place in the region,
which allows the country to serve as a bridge between
conflicting regional players, such as Colombia and Venezuela.
Lacognata sees a larger role for Paraguay to play given the
increasing polarization of Latin American governments. He
said President Lugo would address this during his speech
before the UN General Assembly.


12. (C) Regarding the DCA, Lacognata reiterated Colombia's
right as a sovereign nation to enact bilateral agreements,
but highlighted the need for complete transparency given the
sensitivity to U.S. military activity in the region. He said
Paraguay had no desire to put Colombia on the spot, but
suggested the text of the DCA be released once completed and
signed. He noted there was the much larger issue of arms
purchases and other security agreements - mentioning
Venezuela's accords with Russia and Iran - that required
scrutiny.
CLINTON