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this initiative fails to take into consideration the hemispheric consensus on democracy and human rights and should be withdrawn.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