AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL ON NEWLY APPOINTED

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000127 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019 TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV HO SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL ON NEWLY APPOINTED MINISTER OF DEFENSE Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, Reasons 1.4 (b & d) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with newly appointed Defense Minister Edmundo Orellana on February 12, and discussed their mutual concern over the ungoverned spaces in the Mosquitia, Honduras' cooperation with Nicaragua, arms destruction, the Honduran Armed Forces' (HOAF) involvement in international peacekeeping operations (PKO),and USG assistance and cooperation with the HOAF. We expect Orellana may try to root out corrupt elements in the HOAF and are optimistic that we will be able to work with him on all of these areas of mutual concern. End Summary. The Mosquitia -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador paid a courtesy call on newly appointed Minister of Defense Edmundo "Mundo" Orellana on February 12 to discuss a wide array of bilateral issues. Orellana told the Ambassador that he was extremely concerned about the Mosquitia area of the country, as it is difficult to control, and expressed his fear that organized crime and drug traffickers were gaining increased influence in the region. The Ambassador described a recent visit he made to the Barra de Caratasca area of Mosquitia, where the USG is helping to construct a base for the Honduran Navy, and praised the commitment and quality of the servicemen and women that were posted to the base and the Puerto Lempira area. Orellana agreed that the personnel were professional, but lamented that the GOH had limited resources, which increased the temptation and possibility for corruption by officials and the local populace. The Ambassador briefed Orellana on the fast patrol boats the USG had recently donated to the Honduran Navy, noting that two of them will be posted to this base, while the other two would be further west in the naval facility of Puerto Castillo. The Ambassador also expressed the importance of deploying a radar platform as a key instrument in enhancing our detection capability of aircraft and boats. At the Ambassador,s suggestion, Orellana agreed to conduct a thorough review of the situation and consider devising a comprehensive strategy on the Mosquitia. Orellana said he would share the document with the Ambassador and see how the U.S. government could work in support of the Honduran effort. The Ambassador welcomed Orellana's strategy, saying that the USG can bring a variety of resources, such as USAID projects in the HEALTH and education sectors and the previously mentioned USG military assistance projects. Nicaragua -------------- ¶3. (C) Orellana then added that the problem of the Mosquitia was complicated by the fact that the Miskito people have their own language and culture and do not see themselves as Hondurans. He said they view the GOH as outsiders and feel more of an affinity to the Miskito tribes on the other side of the border with Nicaragua. The Acting Defense Attache asked Orellana if the GOH had discussed the issues of drug trafficking in the Mosquitia with the Government of Nicaragua. Orellana replied that the GOH had discussed the issues of maritime boundaries, setting buoys to demarcate them, and the issuance of fishing permits, but had not yet broached the subject of drug trafficking with Nicaragua, adding that he would definitely put the issue on the bilateral agenda. Arms Destruction -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador then explained to Orellana that a "Chuckwagon" team had come to Honduras in July 2008 to conduct an inventory and assessment of the arms storage in the country. The team surveyed seven sites and had detailed recommendations. The Ambassador told Orellana that there were funds available through the State Department or the OAS (with funds the USG had donated under the Merida Initiative) for destruction. He told Orellana that all we needed to proceed with the destruction was a letter signed by him TEGUCIGALP 00000127 002 OF 002 requesting it. Orellana said he would look into the issue, adding that it was extremely important to get arms off the streets of Honduras. Peacekeeping Operations -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador brought up the subject of the Honduran PKO battalion, which the USG had trained and supplied. He said that the battalion had a high professional capacity and was ready to deploy. Orellana agreed wholeheartedly that involvement in a PKO would bring great prestige and useful experience to the HOAF, and that he strongly backed a deployment. The Ambassador said the USG was willing to support the deployment of the Honduran PKO battalion and its integration under Spanish leadership into the UN mission in Lebanon. He suggested that Orellana might want to accompany Chief of Defense Romeo Vasquez on his trip to Spain in March to discuss the possibility. Orellana said he had a trip planned to Germany in March and that he would try to combine the two. Subsequent to this conversation, we learned that the Spanish sent a MOD representative to Tegucigalpa to discuss PKO on February 22. (Note: We will report any developments septel. End Note.) USG Assistance -------------- ¶7. (C) Orellana then asked for additional assistance, especially in the form of spare parts, to keep the HOAF's equipment functioning, especially the Air Force's planes, which Orellana said were "falling apart." The MilGroup Commander responded that we were already working with the HOAF to determine its needs, including spare parts, and pledged to continue to provide help. Orellana offered that he was going to put a system of checks into place to stop problems in the procurement process and curb corruption and theft. Cooperation on Forest Fires -------------- ¶8. (C) The Ambassador congratulated Orellana on the HOAF's work to fight forest fires and protect the forests from illegal logging. Orellana said this was an important battle and that a better job needed to be done to enforce Honduran laws and arrest and prosecute those involved in illegal logging. Comment -------------- ¶9. (C) Orellana has a reputation for honesty and integrity, and has been known to come into a new position and "clean house," removing people who are superfluous or who are not doing the job they are being paid to do. With less than ONE year remaining in the Zelaya Administration, it is questionable if Orellana can make substantial changes. Nevertheless, we are confident that we will be able to work closely with him on a range of issues of importance to both countries including the fight against illicit drugs and the Merida Initiative, peacekeeping operations, as well as enhancing the professional capacity of the HOAF. LLORENS