THF01: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH G-16 DONORS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000909

SIPDIS

STATE FOR USAID

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV KDEM XG HO
SUBJECT: THF01: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH G-16 DONORS

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 885

Classified By: Ambassador Hugo Llorens for reasons 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador briefed the G-16 donors'
group, in a September 9 meeting at his residence, on U.S.
policy. According to the UNDP representative, some UN member
states are calling on the UN to halt its technical electoral
assistance in Honduras. He encouraged nations who disagree
with cutting off assistance to lobby the UN. The Swedish
representative said his government is concerned that the
technical assistance it provides to the Supreme Electoral
Tribunal (TSE) could be construed as support for the
electoral process and may decide to terminate it. The
Spanish representative said it is unlikely that the EU will
send election observers to Honduras, but that a decision will
be reached on September 15. End Summary.


2. (C) The UNDP representative said the de facto regime is
trying to run out the clock on President Zelaya and hang on
until the January 27 inauguration of the government elected
on November 29. He said the international community must
continue to deliver the message after January 2010 that the
coup d'etat that took place on June 28 will not be tolerated.


Electoral Technical Assistance
--------------


3. (C) The UNDP representative told the G-16 that many UN
member states are exerting pressure on the UN to halt its
technical assistance to the electoral process in Honduras.
He said that, while it is clear that technical assistance
cannot be portrayed as support for the de facto regime, he
believes it would be disadvantageous for the UN to halt its
assistance. He encouraged UN member nations who want this
technical assistance to continue lobby the UN.


4. (C) The Swedish representative said his government is
concerned that the technical support it provides to the TSE
could be interpreted as support for the electoral process.
He said it is likely that Sweden will decide to terminate
that assistance as of a particular date yet to be determined.
He noted that President Zelaya has mentioned September 30 as
the cutoff date for negotiation of the San Jose Accord.

Election Observers
--------------


5. (C) The Spanish Charge said EU member nations have
differing positions on recognition of the electoral process,
but that consensus exists among them that sending an
ambivalent message to the de facto regime must be avoided.
The Spanish diplomat told the meeting participants that on
September 15 the EU Council will decide whether to send a
delegation of election observers and that it is likely that
the decision will be not to do so. He noted that such a
decision could be reversed if there is progress on
restoration of democratic and constitutional order in
Honduras. He advised that the EU is considering adoption of
other measures, such as denying visas to de facto regime
members. He added, however, that the actions most likely to
have an impact on the de facto regime are those having to do
with the electoral process.


6. (C) The Canadian representative, who is the chair of the
G-16, said the OAS has indicated it would need four to six
weeks to be able to put together a delegation of election
observers. He added that the OAS has not made any
contingency plans to send observers and that any agreement to
do so would have to be signed by President Zelaya since the
OAS could not enter into an agreement with the de facto
regime that it does not recognize.


LLORENS