Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TEGUCIGALPA770
2009-08-17 21:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
TFH01: PRESIDENT ARIAS' CALL TO AMBASSADOR LLORENS
how-toVZCZCXRO4690 OO RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHMT RUEHNG RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC DE RUEHTG #0770 2292151 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 172151Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0454 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS IMMEDIATE RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE 1176 RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//CINC/POLAD// IMMEDIATE RUEAHND/CDRJTFB SOTO CANO HO IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000770
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA A/S TOM SHANNON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC KDEM MARR PGOV PINR PREL
TFH01, HO
SUBJECT: TFH01: PRESIDENT ARIAS' CALL TO AMBASSADOR LLORENS
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000770
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA A/S TOM SHANNON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC KDEM MARR PGOV PINR PREL
TFH01, HO
SUBJECT: TFH01: PRESIDENT ARIAS' CALL TO AMBASSADOR LLORENS
1. (SBU) Costa Rican President Arias called the Ambassador
late on Friday, August 14. He seemed to be recovering well
from the flu and was at his home resting. The Ambassador
briefed him on how he saw the situation in Honduras and
stressed the importance of a successful visit by the OAS
Foreign Ministers. The Ambassador agreed Micheletti's recent
public comments again suggesting that Insulza was not welcome
were unhelpful. The Ambassador noted that somewhat better
was the statement made by the Corrales delegation on Thursday
at a press conference in Toncontin Airport upon returning
from DC reaffirming that Insulza was expected to be with the
delegation. The Ambassador emphasized to Arias the
importance of arranging a substantive schedule for the
Foreign Ministers with the regime, civil society, business,
and religious leaders as well as pro-Zelaya social sector
supporters. The Ambassador also stressed the importance of
giving them a fair hearing, at the same time as having the
Foreign Ministers explain the international community's
expectations and strong hope that both sides return quickly
to San Jose in order to reach and sign a final agreement.
2. (SBU) Arias concurred that was his expectation as well.
He expressed concern that the regime may be seeking to stall
and delay. He said the regime delegation did not seem fully
committed to reaching a deal and seemed focused on tinkering
with the political amnesty question. Arias believed that the
core regime supporters in the business community were still
strongly resisting an agreement. He suggested that the US
needed to increase the pressure on them and consider taking
away their visas and possibly freezing their bank accounts.
The Ambassador said he would pass on these suggestions. The
Ambassador informed him that the Embassy was reaching out to
people in Honduras and urging the importance of a successful
Foreign Ministers meeting as a prelude to a final agreement.
The Ambassador said he would also speak to Corrales and get
him focused on having the regime prepared for the Foreign
Ministers with creative and concrete ways of bolstering the
enforcement aspects of a final deal. Arias thanked the
Ambassador for the support and both agreed to speak again
soon.
HENSHAW
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA A/S TOM SHANNON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC KDEM MARR PGOV PINR PREL
TFH01, HO
SUBJECT: TFH01: PRESIDENT ARIAS' CALL TO AMBASSADOR LLORENS
1. (SBU) Costa Rican President Arias called the Ambassador
late on Friday, August 14. He seemed to be recovering well
from the flu and was at his home resting. The Ambassador
briefed him on how he saw the situation in Honduras and
stressed the importance of a successful visit by the OAS
Foreign Ministers. The Ambassador agreed Micheletti's recent
public comments again suggesting that Insulza was not welcome
were unhelpful. The Ambassador noted that somewhat better
was the statement made by the Corrales delegation on Thursday
at a press conference in Toncontin Airport upon returning
from DC reaffirming that Insulza was expected to be with the
delegation. The Ambassador emphasized to Arias the
importance of arranging a substantive schedule for the
Foreign Ministers with the regime, civil society, business,
and religious leaders as well as pro-Zelaya social sector
supporters. The Ambassador also stressed the importance of
giving them a fair hearing, at the same time as having the
Foreign Ministers explain the international community's
expectations and strong hope that both sides return quickly
to San Jose in order to reach and sign a final agreement.
2. (SBU) Arias concurred that was his expectation as well.
He expressed concern that the regime may be seeking to stall
and delay. He said the regime delegation did not seem fully
committed to reaching a deal and seemed focused on tinkering
with the political amnesty question. Arias believed that the
core regime supporters in the business community were still
strongly resisting an agreement. He suggested that the US
needed to increase the pressure on them and consider taking
away their visas and possibly freezing their bank accounts.
The Ambassador said he would pass on these suggestions. The
Ambassador informed him that the Embassy was reaching out to
people in Honduras and urging the importance of a successful
Foreign Ministers meeting as a prelude to a final agreement.
The Ambassador said he would also speak to Corrales and get
him focused on having the regime prepared for the Foreign
Ministers with creative and concrete ways of bolstering the
enforcement aspects of a final deal. Arias thanked the
Ambassador for the support and both agreed to speak again
soon.
HENSHAW