TFH01: EFFORTS TO FORM UNITY GOVERNMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001195 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HO SUBJECT: TFH01: EFFORTS TO FORM UNITY GOVERNMENT REF: TEGUCIGALPA 1189 Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary. Organization of American States (OAS) Envoy Octavio Bordon, along with Zelaya advisors Jorge Arturo Reina, Victor Meza, Rodil Rivera, and Mayra Mejia told the Ambassador on November 20 that the best solution to the political crisis at this juncture would be re-engagement in the spirit of the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord to establish a national unity government. Meza said the unity government should be formed while de facto regime leader Micheletti is on a temporary leave of absence (see reftel) in order to ensure that Micheletti is unable to return to power after the absence is over. The Ambassador said that the U.S. will not/not stop fighting for the restoration of the democratic order and agreed that this option should be explored. The Ambassador offered to engage unofficially with the Micheletti camp to push for the formation of a national unity government at this time. Bordon and Zelaya's advisors decided that they would present this proposal to President Zelaya and would call the Ambassador during the meeting so that he too could engage with Zelaya on this new option. End Summary. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador met on November 20 with Ambassador Octavio Bordon, Organization of American States (OAS) Envoy; Ambassador Jorge Arturo Reina, President Zelaya's representative on the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord's Verification Commission; and Victor Meza, Rodil Rivera, and Mayra Mejia, the Zelaya negotiators to the Guaymuras Dialogue that led to the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord. Bordon told the Ambassador that he believed that the best way to achieve stability for Honduras would be re-engagement under the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord in order to create a national unity government. Bordon added that the OAS would be willing to place more staff in Tegucigalpa and even re-install the Verification Committee. Reina, Meza, Rivera, and Mejia expressed their support for Bordon's proposal. However, Reina clarified that it would have to be discussed with President Zelaya. He further said the proposal should be put to President Zelaya by Bordon and the Ambassador rather than by Meza, Rivera, Mejia, or himself. ¶3. (C) Meza said the temporary absence of Micheletti is a positive development because it opens up new negotiating possibilities, both within and outside of the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Agreement. Meza said the unity government should be formed while Micheletti is absent in order to prevent him from attempting to return to power and lead it. Meza was adamant that any discussion of formation of a unity government had to state explicitly that it would not be led by Micheletti. Meza suggested that this option be presented to President Zelaya as a way to ensure that Micheletti does not return to power after his temporary absence. Reina said it would be helpful in convincing President Zelaya to accept this proposal if de facto regime minister to the presidency Rafael Pineda Ponce withdrew the November 3 letter he had sent to Zelaya on behalf of Micheletti requesting Zelaya submit suggestions for the composition of the unity government. Bordon offered the good offices of the OAS to accomplish this since the letter was not in keeping with the accord. ¶4. (C) The Ambassador stated that the United States will continue to call for the restoration of the democratic order in Honduras. He noted that the U.S. will insist that the discussion in Congress regarding the restoration of President Zelaya, currently scheduled for December 2, be completely transparent. The Ambassador said that if Micheletti does go on a temporary leave of absence, he very well may not return to power. The Ambassador told Bordon and Zelaya's advisors that he believed the option put forth by Bordon should be explored, but that since President Zelaya declared the accord dead, a way for him to re-engage under it would need to be found. The Ambassador said the first step would be to hold unofficial meetings with the Micheletti camp to determine if the political will exists to engage on establishment of a unity government. The Ambassador urged Reina, Meza, Rivera, and Mejia to present this proposal to President Zelaya rather than asking the U.S. and OAS to do so. It was agreed that Bordon would present the proposal to Zelaya, accompanied by Reina, Meza, Rivera, and Mejia and that Bordon would call the Ambassador during the meeting so that he could also encourage Zelaya to agree to this proposal. TEGUCIGALP 00001195 002 OF 002 LLORENS