TFH01: ZELAYA WILL NOT ACCEPT UNITY GOVERNMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001201 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/24/2019 TAGS: PGOV KDEM PREL HO SUBJECT: TFH01: ZELAYA WILL NOT ACCEPT UNITY GOVERNMENT WITHOUT RESTORATION Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (b & d) ¶1. (C) Four senior advisors to President Manuel &Mel8 Zelaya told the Ambassador, DCM and OAS negotiator Ambassador Octavio Bordon that Zelaya would not accept a unity government until he was reinstated as president, in a November 21 meeting. The four advisors, Arturo Reina, Rodil Rivera Rodil, Victor Meza and Mayra Mejia, did agree, at our urging, to continue private talks with de facto regime negotiator Arturo Corrales, in order to keep open the lines of communications. A meeting between them took place later that day. Zelaya,s advisors said that the president believed, as a matter of principle, that a unity government could not be created in the absence of the legitimate head of state. Zelaya, therefore, would oppose the creation of such a government prior to the December 2 congressional vote on his restitution. According to the team, Zelaya was willing to engage in negotiations with de facto regime head Roberto Micheletti on the formation of a unity government should he be restored in the December 2 vote. ¶2. (C) Zelaya,s team said that the president had proposed that General Romeo Vasquez Velasquez, head of the military and one of the leaders of the June 28 coup, be named Minister of Governance and run the country until the date that Congress named for Zelaya,s return. Both the Ambassador and Bordon expressed strong opposition to this idea, saying that it would be a mistake to bring the military back into the political picture. ¶3. (C) Comment: We believe that Zelaya,s participation in the selection of a government of national unity would improve the likelihood of restitution as it would hasten the permanent departure of Micheletti. Zelaya,s position risks turning the vote into a choice between him and Micheletti, instead of a question on what replaces Micheletti's regime. Nevertheless, it is important that we keep the lines of communication open between the two negotiating teams. LLORENS