DEMARCHE REQUEST:HONDURAN INITIATIVE TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 045556


E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: PREL OAS BH CU HO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST:HONDURAN INITIATIVE TO
ABROGATE 1962 AND 1964 OAS RESOLUTIONS ON CUBA

Classified By: WHA DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY DAVID

M. ROBINSON FOR REASONS E.O. 12958 1. B (4) AND (6)


1. (U) Paragraph 2 contains an urgent action
request.


2. (C) Addressee posts are requested to approach
host government officials at the highest level and
deliver the following demarche before 10:30 a.m.
Washington time on Tuesday, May 5. Background and
talking points follow in paragraphs 3-6.


3. (C) Honduras has shared with us draft language
On Cuba for the declaration to be adopted at the OAS
General Assembly, to be held June 1-3 in Honduras.
The suggested Honduran draft calls for the
abrogation of the 1962 OAS resolution suspending
Cuba from the OAS and the 1964 OAS resolution urging
OAS member states to break diplomatic relations with
Cuba. Honduran Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas is
currently in Washington seeking support for this
language and plans to share it with the OAS Regional
Coordinators tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. for further
dissemination to OAS member states.


4. (C) The U.S. strongly believes the Honduran
initiative does not address the broader issue before
us - charting a path for Cuba's eventual
reincorporation into the OAS that
is consistent with principles of the Inter-American
Democratic Charter and the hemisphere's democratic
values. We want the GOH to withdraw its draft text
and not share it with other OAS members.


5. (C) Belize is one of the OAS regional
coordinators. We want GOB support for the U.S.
position that this
initiative fails to take into consideration the
hemispheric consensus on democracy and human rights
and should be withdrawn.


6. (U) Talking points for Belize and Honduras:

-The USG has reviewed Honduras' proposed language
on
Cuba for the OAS General Assembly Declaration, which
Honduran Foreign Minister Rodas plans to submit to
the
regional coordinators on Tuesday, May 5.

-The Honduran language calls for the repeal of the
1962 OAS resolution suspending Cuba from the OAS and
the 1964 OAS resolution calling on OAS members to
break diplomatic relations with Cuba.

-The USG strongly believes the Honduran initiative
fails to address the broader issue before us -
charting a path for Cuba's eventual reincorporation
into the OAS that is consistent with the principles
of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and the
hemisphere's democratic
values.

-The U.S. has taken several initiatives recently
to
establish more productive and pragmatic U.S.
policies
towards Cuba.

-It is important for us to recognize that there
are
larger issues at stake regarding our commitment to
uphold fundamental hemispheric values in the areas
of democracy and human rights.

-(if necessary) If this initiative were submitted
for a vote, the U.S. would be forced to vote no.

-(for Belize) We request your government's support
in OAS fora for our view that this issue is not
ready for consideration.

-(for Honduras) We request that your government
abandon its initiative. Introducing such a
controversial and divisive initiative will create a
counterproductive,
adversarial atmosphere at the General Assembly.
CLINTON