Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TEGUCIGALPA315
2009-05-05 15:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
RESPONSE DEMARCHE - HONDURAN INITIATIVE TO
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000315
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: HO KDEM PGOV
SUBJECT: RESPONSE DEMARCHE - HONDURAN INITIATIVE TO
ABROGATE 1962 AND 1964 OAS RESOLUTIONS ON CUBA
REF: A. EMAIL DEMARCHE 5/4/2009
B. PHONE CONVERSATION WEBSTER & AMB 5/4/2009
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b & d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000315
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: HO KDEM PGOV
SUBJECT: RESPONSE DEMARCHE - HONDURAN INITIATIVE TO
ABROGATE 1962 AND 1964 OAS RESOLUTIONS ON CUBA
REF: A. EMAIL DEMARCHE 5/4/2009
B. PHONE CONVERSATION WEBSTER & AMB 5/4/2009
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b & d).
1. (C) On the evening of May 4, the Ambassador delivered
demarche (as per reftelS). The Ambassador told Zelaya that
we had appreciated his passing to us the draft text on Cuba
for the OAS General Assembly Declaration. The Ambassador
said that senior Administration officials had carefully
reviewed the draft and found it to be counterproductive. The
Ambassador said that the Administration of President Obama
had embarked the United States on a more open, flexible and
engaged policy approach on Cuba. Nevertheless, the
fundamental tenant of U.S. policy toward Cuba remained
support for democracy and the defense of basic human rights.
The Ambassador stressed the demarche point that the proposed
Honduran draft language was not fully consistent with the OAS
Democratic Charter and our broader policy interests towards
the hemisphere. Under these circumstances, the Ambassador
urged Zelaya to instruct Foreign Minister Rodas to not/not
present the proposed Cuba text at the regional coordinators
meeting on May 5 in Washington.
2. (C) President Zelaya responded that in the interest of
achieving greater hemispheric solidarity, Honduras was
seeking a constructive and successful OAS General Assembly.
Zelaya said that the Cuba paragraph that Honduras was
proposing represented to a significant extent the views of
many in the region, which was to establish a more open policy
towards Cuba. In this regard, Zelaya said that this approach
was actually in support of the new Obama Administration
approach on Cuba. Zelaya stressed that he had sent us the
draft language directly to U.S. officials in Washington to
ensure that there were no surprises and to seek a consensus
approach on Cuba. Zelaya said Honduras had discussed this
proposal directly with OAS Secretary General Insulza who had
agreed that Cuba needed to be on the agenda for the OAS
General Assembly. Zelaya lamented that Insulza had not been
more open in discussing the nature of the proposal on Cuba
with the U.S.
3. (C) Zelaya said he did not want to have this issue cause
difficulties with the U.S. He said he was open to any
editing changes and suggestions the U.S. may have on how to
approach this issue. The Ambassador said that this could
possibly be discussed in more substance in the future, but at
this moment the best way to avoid friction was for him to
instruct Foreign Minister Rodas to not/not present the text
at the OAS meeting tomorrow. Zelaya agreed and said he would
instruct Foreign Minister Rodas to not submit the proposed
text, although he believed that Cuba should and would be
discussed at the meeting tomorrow. Zelaya said he would
attempt to get a hold of Rodas and if he was unsuccessful, he
would call Honduran Ambassador to the U.S. Roberto Flores,
who was easier to reach, and pass on his instructions. The
Ambassador and President Zelaya agreed to stay in touch on
this issue.
LLORENS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/05/2019
TAGS: HO KDEM PGOV
SUBJECT: RESPONSE DEMARCHE - HONDURAN INITIATIVE TO
ABROGATE 1962 AND 1964 OAS RESOLUTIONS ON CUBA
REF: A. EMAIL DEMARCHE 5/4/2009
B. PHONE CONVERSATION WEBSTER & AMB 5/4/2009
Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b & d).
1. (C) On the evening of May 4, the Ambassador delivered
demarche (as per reftelS). The Ambassador told Zelaya that
we had appreciated his passing to us the draft text on Cuba
for the OAS General Assembly Declaration. The Ambassador
said that senior Administration officials had carefully
reviewed the draft and found it to be counterproductive. The
Ambassador said that the Administration of President Obama
had embarked the United States on a more open, flexible and
engaged policy approach on Cuba. Nevertheless, the
fundamental tenant of U.S. policy toward Cuba remained
support for democracy and the defense of basic human rights.
The Ambassador stressed the demarche point that the proposed
Honduran draft language was not fully consistent with the OAS
Democratic Charter and our broader policy interests towards
the hemisphere. Under these circumstances, the Ambassador
urged Zelaya to instruct Foreign Minister Rodas to not/not
present the proposed Cuba text at the regional coordinators
meeting on May 5 in Washington.
2. (C) President Zelaya responded that in the interest of
achieving greater hemispheric solidarity, Honduras was
seeking a constructive and successful OAS General Assembly.
Zelaya said that the Cuba paragraph that Honduras was
proposing represented to a significant extent the views of
many in the region, which was to establish a more open policy
towards Cuba. In this regard, Zelaya said that this approach
was actually in support of the new Obama Administration
approach on Cuba. Zelaya stressed that he had sent us the
draft language directly to U.S. officials in Washington to
ensure that there were no surprises and to seek a consensus
approach on Cuba. Zelaya said Honduras had discussed this
proposal directly with OAS Secretary General Insulza who had
agreed that Cuba needed to be on the agenda for the OAS
General Assembly. Zelaya lamented that Insulza had not been
more open in discussing the nature of the proposal on Cuba
with the U.S.
3. (C) Zelaya said he did not want to have this issue cause
difficulties with the U.S. He said he was open to any
editing changes and suggestions the U.S. may have on how to
approach this issue. The Ambassador said that this could
possibly be discussed in more substance in the future, but at
this moment the best way to avoid friction was for him to
instruct Foreign Minister Rodas to not/not present the text
at the OAS meeting tomorrow. Zelaya agreed and said he would
instruct Foreign Minister Rodas to not submit the proposed
text, although he believed that Cuba should and would be
discussed at the meeting tomorrow. Zelaya said he would
attempt to get a hold of Rodas and if he was unsuccessful, he
would call Honduran Ambassador to the U.S. Roberto Flores,
who was easier to reach, and pass on his instructions. The
Ambassador and President Zelaya agreed to stay in touch on
this issue.
LLORENS