TFH01: A/S SHANNON URGES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001130 SIPDIS CABLE CLEARED BY WHA A/S THOMAS SHANNON E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HO SUBJECT: TFH01: A/S SHANNON URGES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES TO CALL FOR NEGOTIATED SOLUTION Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Assistant Secretary of State (A/S) for Western Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Thomas Shannon urged the presidential candidates at an October 28 dinner to play a leading role in the quest for a solution to their country's political crisis. Organization of American States (OAS) Political Secretary Victor Rico, who was also present, told the candidates that the OAS could not continue to accompany the Guaymuras dialogue if an agreement were not reached soon. Restrepo cautioned the candidates that, in the absence of a negotiated agreement, the winner of the November 29 election would need to focus much time on gaining recognition from the international community. All candidates said they would support the resumption of negotiations. National Party candidate Lobo and Democratic Unification Party candidate Ham suggested that if an agreement were reached that provided for the Congress to decide on the restitution of President Jose Manuel "Mel" Zelaya, the political parties needed to discuss the issue before its referral to Congress. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador hosted a dinner on October 28 for WHA A/S Thomas Shannon, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (PDAS) Craig Kelly, and National Security Council Senior Advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs Daniel Restrepo for five of the six presidential candidates: Elvin Santos of the Liberal Party, Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo of the National Party, Bernard Martinez of the Social Democratic Innovation and Unity Party (PINU),Cesar Ham of the Democratic Unification Party (UD),and independent candidate Carlos H. Reyes. Felicito Avila of the Christian Democratic Party, who was unable to attend the dinner, was represented by vice presidential contender Adela Echevarria. OAS Political Secretary Victor Rico and former President of Honduras Carlos Flores also attended the dinner. ¶3. (C) The Ambassador told the candidates that the visit of A/S Shannon, PDAS Kelly, and Mr. Restrepo was a last attempt by the U.S. government in support of the OAS to find a solution to the Honduran political crisis. The Assistant Secretary said Honduras had a choice of holding elections alone or with the support of the international community. A/S Shannon urged the presidential candidates to become protagonists in the search for a solution to the Honduran crisis. Restrepo told the presidential candidates that the solution to the Honduran political crisis needed to be a solution formulated by Hondurans, but that they needed to understand that the winner of the election would, in the absence of an negotiated agreement, have to spend much time seeking recognition from the international community. Restrepo added that it would be much easier for the international community to recognize the legitimacy of the electoral process if there were an agreement. ¶4. (C) Rico noted that there had been significant progress in the Guaymuras dialogue and that on two occasions the commissions representing President Jose Manuel "Mel" Zelaya and de facto regime leader Roberto Micheletti had been close to reaching an agreement. Rico said it was now necessary to take the final step, which was the most difficult, to close the deal. Rico told the candidates that they could play an important role in the coming days by encouraging the parties to reach an agreement. Rico said the OAS could not continue to accompany the Guaymuras dialogue if an agreement were not reached very soon. Rico told the candidates that the OAS could send an elections observer mission as soon as an agreement were signed. ¶5. (C) Former President Flores said it would be foolish not to reach an agreement when the commissions had come so close. Flores and Ham both stated that the Congress would be the correct institution to decide on Zelaya's restitution. Flores said that the international community should recognize the electoral process since the elections were organized before June 28. Lobo also urged the international community not to make recognition of the electoral process contingent on a negotiated solution to the political crisis. ¶6. (C) Santos said the candidates had made efforts to help find a resolution to the crisis, but that there were limits TEGUCIGALP 00001130 002 OF 002 on their ability to influence the parties. Lobo said he would support whatever the commissions to the Guaymuras dialogue agreed to. He suggested that the political parties begin a dialogue on the political crisis. Martinez said the international community should respect Honduras' laws and institutions and should call for a solution that helps the country and not just one party. Martinez said the international community should stop threatening Honduras. Restrepo responded that his comments regarding the international community's difficulty in recognizing the electoral outcome was not meant as a threat, but reflected the reality of the international community's position. Martinez added that the interests of Honduras must be placed above individual interests and that a more equitable Honduras should be sought. Echevarria said the country's political crisis presents a perfect opportunity to analyze its economic and social problems and for national reconciliation. Ham said eighty-five percent of Hondurans want a negotiated agreement before elections. He urged his fellow presidential candidates to work with their party leaders towards a solution to the crisis. He said Honduras cannot conduct an electoral process that is not recognized by the international community. Reyes reiterated his public stance that he will not participate in the elections unless the constitutional order is restored. He cautioned that there would be serious repercussions in Honduras if there were no solution to the crisis since it is being viewed as a battle between the country's rich and poor. He added that the standing of the OAS and the United Nations in Latin America will plummet if no resolution to the Honduran crisis is found. ¶7. (C) All candidates said they would support the resumption of negotiations and the reaching of an agreement as soon as possible. Cesar Ham said he understood that if an agreement was reached the National Congress had the final say on whether to restore President Zelaya to office. Ham noted that if the congressional deliberations were open he would support whatever decision was made and would seriously consider participating in the elections. However, he noted that he and independent candidate Carlos H. Reyes , although registered as official candidates, were at a serious disadvantage since they had not conducted any campaign activity since the June 28 coup. Carlos H. Reyes stressed that for him the restitution of President Zelaya was fundamental and would not likely participate if Zelaya was not restored. Shannon said he respected whatever decision was made by the individual candidates in terms of their participation, but suggested that they should consider the political space that elections provided to compete and present their case to the people. He noted that in various Latin American countries, including Venezuela, the decision by the opposition not to participate in elections had proven to be a major setback. Lobo and Ham both suggested that if it were decided that Zelaya's restitution would be referred to Congress, the political parties needed to discuss the issue ahead of time. LLORENS