GOG to Recognize Lobo's GOH

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000019 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/20 TAGS: PREL HO GT SUBJECT: GOG to Recognize Lobo's GOH REF: GUATEMALA 734; GUATEMALA 913 CLASSIFIED BY: Drew G. Blakeney, Political and Economic Counselor, State, P/E; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) (C) Carlos Raul Morales, Director General for Bilateral Affairs at the Guatemalan MFA, told Pol/Econ Counselor January 20 that President Colom had decided that the Government of Guatemala (GOG) would immediately recognize the Government of Honduras (GOH) following President-Elect Lobo's inauguration. Colom had based his decision on the historically good state of GOG-GOH relations, the importance of the commercial relationship with Honduras, and his long-standing friendship with Pepe Lobo. Morales said that Colom would not, however, attend the inauguration ceremony in order to avoid shaking the hand of de facto President Micheletti. Rather, Colom had agreed to attend the lunch immediately following the inauguration, and the GOG would recognize the Lobo Government at the same time. Morales said Colom had coordinated this position with Salvadoran President Funes, who would proceed along the same lines. He lamented that the Government of Nicaragua was not following suit. Morales said he was working on press guidance, and that the GOG would soon make its decision public. ROBINSON