LETTER FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT LOBO TO PRESIDENT OBAMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001328 SIPDIS S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O STATE FOR WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/28/2019 TAGS: OPDC PGOV PREL KDEM OVIP HO SUBJECT: LETTER FROM PRESIDENT-ELECT LOBO TO PRESIDENT OBAMA REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 1302 ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 1192 Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b & d) ¶1. (U) The Ambassador on December 28 received a letter dated December 22 from President-elect Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo to President Obama. An informal Embassy translation of the letter is provided in paragraph 2. Embassy will fax the original Spanish text to WHA/CEN and to the NSC. ¶2. (SBU) Begin Text. President-Elect Tegucigalpa, December 22, 2009 Mr. President: I have the honor of addressing myself to Your Excellency on the occasion of bringing to your distinguished attention that in a free and transparent electoral process held last November 29, the Honduran people honored me by electing me President of the Republic for the period 2010-2014. My goal is to create a unity and reconciliation government that will allow us to unify Honduran society, counting to that end on international collaboration and solidarity and to be able to begin discussion of the fundamental subjects that affect our people such as those related to income generation, improvement of health and education services, and citizens' security. According to the constitution, this responsibility conferred upon me by the Honduran nation will be solemnly carried out by the Ceremony of Succession to the Presidency, which will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, a historical event which it would be an honor to have Your Excellency attend, and to which I extend a most cordial invitation. With the certainty of being able to meet on such a memorable occasion, I take this first opportunity to extend the assurances of my highest and distinguished consideration. Porfirio Lobo Sosa President-Elect Republic of Honduras His Excellency Barack Obama President of the United States of America End Text. ¶3. (C) Comment: We recommend that the President respond to Lobo's letter. A prompt response would be an opportunity to provide Lobo with constructive guidance as he begins his term of office and encourage him to do everything possible to restore the democratic and constitutional order. Lobo has urged de facto regime leader Roberto Micheletti to relinquish power. He has publicly called for the full implementation of the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord, including the establishment of a truth commission. As he states in his letter to President Obama, he plans to form a unity government that would include representatives of many if not all the opposition political parties. End Comment. LLORENS