HONDURAN PERM REP INQUIRES IF USG CAN HOST

C O N F I D E N T I A L USUN NEW YORK 000803

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2019
TAGS: PREL UNGA HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN PERM REP INQUIRES IF USG CAN HOST
ZELAYA'S NY VISIT FOR UNGA GENERAL DEBATE

Classified By: Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, Deputy Permanent Represen
tative, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. This is an action request. See paras 3 and 6.

ZELAYA MAY TRAVEL TO NEW YORK AFTER WASHINGTON
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2. (C) In a meeting with Ambassador Wolff, August 28,
Honduran PermRep Reina Idiaquez reported that President
Zelaya would be coming to Washington on Sunday or Monday (Aug
30-Sept 1),and perhaps New York later in the week. Reina
did not have details on Zelaya's agenda in either city but
said the president wanted to talk to as many people as
possible, and hoped to meet with the OAS and with Secretary
Clinton or another senior Department official. Reina said he
would travel to Washington to see Zelaya as well.

CAN THE U.S. HOST ZELAYA IN NEW YORK?
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3. (C) Reina confirmed that Zelaya planned to address the UN
General Assembly during the general debate (he is currently
scheduled to speak on Wednesday afternoon, September 23).
Reina said that Zelaya planned to come for three days and,
wondered whether the U.S. would be able to "host" the visit.
Stressing that he was the author of the idea and only
exploring it as an option, Reina underscored the strong
political message of support for Zelaya and the
constitutional order in Honduras U.S. hosting would send.
(Comment: although he did not say so explicitly, Reina seemed
to indicate that others (e.g. Venezuela) would jump at the
chance to bankroll Zelaya's visit to New York, something
Reina may be trying to prevent. End Comment). Ambassador
Wolff said that he would send the request to Washington for
review. He noted that there would be legal and practical as
well as political issues to consider due to the potential
precedent this might set for the U.S. as host country. He
also noted that Zelaya would have a more successful visit to
the UNGA if he arrived having already signed Arrias' San Jose
Accord. Reina took the point, and asked Wolff to provide any
initial reaction from Washington to the hosting option.


4. (C) Reina lamented that Honduran society was becoming
dangerously polarized a result of the coup. He said that
before the coup the divisions were political (and party
mechanisms existed to work through them); but now the
divisions were more acute, between the rich and poor,
increasing the chances of demonstrations and violence. The
de facto authorities were perceiving themselves as the
bulwark against Chavismo moving North. Venezuela and others
in the region were stoking the other side.

HONDURAN PERMREP PRESENTS DRAFT OAS TEXT ON HONDURAN ELECTIONS
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5. (C) On August 29, Reina passed to Ambassador Wolff a copy
of a draft resolution that Honduras hopes to promote at the
OAS during Zelaya's visit. The text (emailed to WHA, WHA/CEN
and the Honduras Task Force) calls on the OAS to declare it
will not recognize the upcoming electoral process and results
if Zelaya were not re-instated beforehand.

COMMENT AND ACTION REQUEST
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6. (C) USUN requests that the Department convey any initial
reactions to Reina's proposal for the U.S. to sponsor
Zelaya's trip to the UNGA. Another way to signal legitimacy
and support to Zelaya during the UNGA, if that was deemed
useful, may be to host him at a lunch or meeting and invite a
cross-section of friendly governments from Latin AMERICA and
Europe. Any Department views along these lines that USUN
could pass on to Reina would be welcome.
RICE