TFH01: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH THE FIRST FAMILY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000727

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2019
TAGS: PGOV KDEM HO
SUBJECT: TFH01: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH THE FIRST FAMILY

Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens, reasons 1.4 (d)


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador hosted an August 9 lunch
with First Lady Xiomara Castro de Zelaya and members of the
First Family. They believed that reconciliation among the
Liberal Party would be very difficult, and they viewed it as
unlikely that Elvin Santos would be able to recover ground
before the November elections. The family remained gracious
for U.S. support during difficult personal times. End
Summary.


2. (C) The Ambassador stated the U.S. position and briefed
the family on the upcoming visit of the OAS foreign
ministers. He expressed his view that it was important for
all parties to be heard, and that there be a quick return to
the negotiating table in San Jose.


3. (C) Given the statements by the de facto regime regarding
the OAS mission, the First Lady said that the de facto regime
was attempting to discredit the OAS and Secretary General
Insulza. She believed the de facto regime would turn to
European countries to observe the November elections.


4. (C) The First Lady said Elvin Santos would not be able to
recover the support of would-be Liberal party voters due to
the fact that he did not condemn the coup or strongly support
the return of President Zelaya. She said it was not in the
political interest of her husband to support Santos. She
noted Santos had the support of many Liberal Party elites
but, in her view, the base had abandoned him.


5. (C) The family seemed to harbor more resentment toward
Elvin Santos than toward de facto regime president Roberto
Micheletti. President Zelaya's mother noted that in the
primaries, she had voted for Elvin Santos, but that everyone
else in the family had voted for Micheletti. The First Lady
and her daughters agreed, that they had supported Micheletti,
because "at least you knew where he stood."


6. (C) In another example of the close dynamics between the
families, the daughter of President Zelaya (Zoe Melara
Zelaya) told a story about how 4-year old granddaughter Irene
asked when Micheletti had "gone bad" and whispered her idea
that "Grandpa should escape when Micheletti is reading the
newspaper," (as if Zelaya was being held captive by
Micheletti himself).


7. (C) The daughter pointed out that her father had always
talked in general terms about the oligarchy and the flaws of
the political system, but she felt he never "personalized"
any of these disputes. Her father's political opponents, on
the other hand, did have strong personal animosities toward
her father.


8. (C) Comment: Overall, the family seemed to be in good
spirits. They did not call into question the U.S. position;
and were appreciative of the personal support of the Embassy.
End Comment.
LLORENS