OAS DEMANDS ZELAYA'S RETURN TO HONDURAN PRESIDENCY

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 068872 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/03/2019 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PINS OAS XK XM SUBJECT: OAS DEMANDS ZELAYA'S RETURN TO HONDURAN PRESIDENCY REF: A. SAN JOSE 000544 ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 000521 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: USOAS DCM W. Lewis Amselem, reasons 1.4(b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Note: This cable is from the U.S. Permanent Mission to the Organization of American States. Info addressees to this cable are largely posts in OAS permanent observer countries who may receive inquiries regarding the contents of this cable. End note. ¶2. (C) Summary: After nearly 18 straight hours of negotiations, the Organization of American States (OAS) Special General Assembly on July 1 adopted a resolution condemning the "coup" that toppled Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and threatening to suspend Honduras from the OAS unless Zelaya is returned to power within 72 hours and the democratic constitutional order is restored. OAS leadership and member state representatives discussed diplomatic initiatives to end the crisis shortly after the Organization adopted the resolution. Those include asking a group of prominent Hondurans to convince the Micheletti regime that the OAS will deliver on its threat of suspension under Article 9 of the OAS Charter and Article 21 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter if, at a minimum, progress is not made toward restoring Zelaya to office. End summary. -------------- OAS ACTS UNDER DEMOCRATIC CHARTER -------------- ¶3. (U) The OAS adopted the resolution by consensus at approximately 4:00 AM on July 1, invoking the OAS Charter and the Inter-American Democratic Charter. The resolution instructs Secretary General Insulza to undertake diplomatic initiatives aimed at restoring democracy, the rule of law and President Zelaya. It gave the Micheletti regime 72 hours to show progress or Honduras could be suspended from the inter-American system, in accordance with Article 21 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter. ¶4. (U) As it had in the immediate aftermath of the events of June 28, the OAS again condemned the coup against President Zelaya and the constitutional democratic order in Honduras. It also reaffirmed Zelaya's legitimacy and demanded his immediate, safe, and unconditional return, and rejected the legitimacy of any government that might result from the coup. ¶5. (U) Venezuela, with the support of Honduras, other ALBA countries, and, most importantly, Mexico, succeeded in deleting from the resolution a previously agreed upon paragraph calling on all actors in Honduras to conduct themselves in accordance the rule of law, maintenance of peace, and to seek to resolve all disputes in accordance with the Honduran Constitution and the principles and purposes of the OAS and Inter-American Democratic Charter. Venezuela, in particular, was vehement in its opposition to the language, followed by Honduras, Nicaragua and Ecuador, suggesting that only the "golpistas" had acted outside the law. -------------- CARRIBEAN COUNTRIES COUNTER "ALBA" -------------- ¶6. (C) The Caribbean countries, notably Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Lucia, played an uncharacteristically active role in ensuring that the resolution followed the letter and spirit of the Inter-American Democratic Charter and focused on dialogue and a diplomatic resolution of the political impasse as the way forward, rather than condemnation as a way to rectify the past. While most countries, including the United States, favored the former, it was clear that Honduras and its "Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas" (ALBA) allies were transfixed on the latter. ¶7. (C) Caribbean delegates told USOAS separately and privately that ALBA heavy-handedness at the June 2-4 OAS General Assembly in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, had left "a bad taste in our mouths." They were particularly irked at their own CARICOM brothers who had signed on to ALBA. "The way they have prostituted themselves sickens us," said one Caribbean diplomat. -------------- WAY FORWARD - OAS DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES -------------- ¶8. (U) The resolution's 72-hour period began running when the OAS adopted the resolution at approximately 4:00 AM July ¶1. The period thus expires at 4:00 AM July 4. ¶9. (C) In meetings later in the morning July 1, OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza of Chile, Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana as the Chair of the Special GA, and several other foreign ministers and OAS permanent representatives (PermReps),including USOAS PermRep Amb. Morales, discussed next steps. They decided to seek to persuade a number of prominent Hondurans to act as intermediaries with the Micheletti regime. Possible Hondurans discussed included former presidents Ricardo Maduro of the National Party and Carlos Flores of the Liberal Party; Tegucigalpa Archbishop Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez; Tegucigalpa mayor Ricardo Alvarez of the National Party; Liberal Party presidential candidate Elvin Santos; and National party presidential candidate Porforio "Pepe" Lobo. Insulza, Argentine FM Taiana and Dominican FM Carlos Morales Troncoso began contacting these individuals July 1 and plan to ask them to impress upon the Micheletti regime that the OAS is serious about suspending Honduras from the Organization unless progress is made toward restoring Zelaya to his position. ¶10. (U) The OAS has not decided if and when to send a delegation to meet with Micheletti. FM Taiana in particular was concerned that Micheletti would seek to portray any OAS visit as tacit recognition of his government. The OAS is considering proposing a meeting in a third country but is uncertain which host would be appropriate. The group discussed Costa Rica and Mexico as possibilities. ¶11. (U) The group did not set a date and time to reconvene the Special General Assembly, hear Insulza's report on the diplomatic initiatives and determine whether to proceed with suspension. The meeting could happen as early as the morning of July 4. ¶12. (C) Comment: Some OAS member states -- particularly the ALBA countries -- will undoubtedly demand that the OAS suspend Honduras immediately after 72 hours if Zelaya is not back in place as the country's undisputed president. Others will back extending the deadline if the OAS initiatives show progress, and in particular if the Micheletti regime demonstrates a willingness to compromise. Most OAS member states are seeking the same end -- that Zelaya finish his term and that Honduras hold credible elections to replace him in November. ¶13. (C) Comment continued: OAS mission representatives from a wide variety of member states repeated the same refrain to us in informal discussions during the Special GA proceedings: Before the coup, Zelaya was well on his way to self-destruction. The coup was an enormous misstep by Zelaya opponents and had forced many member states to take the highly unpleasant step of supporting Zelaya. End comment. CLINTON