New Minister of Defense - corrected cable

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 000185

SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/02/26
TAGS: PGOV PREL HO MOPS
SUBJECT: New Minister of Defense - corrected cable

REF: TEGUCIGALPA 177

CLASSIFIED BY: Hugo Llorens, Ambassador, executive; REASON: 1.4(B),
(D)


1. (C) Summary: President Porfirio Lobo appointed on February 24
fellow National Party member and former legislator Marlon Pascua
Cerrato as Minister of Defense. Initial impressions suggest
Cerrato, who is known as a skillful manager, is a good choice.
President Lobo also appointed Carlos Roberto Funez, who belongs to
the Liberal Party, as Vice Minister of Defense. We expect that
President Lobo will soon name a new Chief of the Joint Staff.
President Lobo told the Ambassador on February 24 that he is likely
to name Armed Forces Inspector General Carlos Cuellar. We plan to
reach out to Pascua and begin a dialogue aimed at restoring a
working agenda based on civilian control of the military, full
respect for human rights, and reform of the Honduran Armed Forces
as a modern, apolitical institution. End Summary.


2. (U) President Porfirio Lobo announced at approximately 17:00
(local) on February 24 the appointment of Marlon Pascua Cerrato as
the new Minister of Defense. Pascua, who belongs to President
Lobo's National Party and was a former member of congress, is a
civilian who never served in the Armed Forces. He served as
President Lobo's foreign affairs spokesperson during the
presidential campaign and, in that capacity, had extensive contact
with many of the diplomatic missions that have not yet recognized
the Lobo government. President Lobo also appointed Carlos Roberto
Funez as Vice Minister of Defense. Funez, who belongs to the
Liberal Party, is a close advisor to Elvin Santos, the Liberal
Party's presidential candidate in the 2009 election.


3. (C) President Lobo had told the Ambassador earlier in the day on
February 24 that he would announce Cerrato's appointment. Lobo
told the Ambassador that he believed Cerrato would carry out his
instructions and would be acceptable to the military. Pascua is
known for his strong management ability and initial consultations
with Embassy contacts indicate that he is a good choice. We will
provide further information on Cerrato septel.


4. (C) We expect that President Lobo will nominate a new Chief of
the Joint Staff soon. President Lobo also told the Ambassador on
February 24 that he plans to replace Chief of the Joint Staff
General Romeo Orlando Vasquez with either Armed Forces Inspector
General General Carlos Cuellar or Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff
General Venancio Cervantes. Cuellar would retire from the military
in December 2011 and is expected to be replaced by ARMY Chief
General Miguel Angel Garcia Padget. President Lobo told the
Ambassador that he would not appoint ARMY Chief General Miguel
Angel Garcia Padget in response to U.S. concerns about Garcia
Padget's links to the June 28 coup d'etat. President Lobo said he
panned to nominate General Vasquez as Director of the state
telecommunications company, Hondutel. President Lobo explained
that this would give Vasquez the opportunity to restore his image
by giving him the opportunity to clean up Hondutel.


5. (C) Comment: Initial indications are that Cerrato is a strong
choice. From our point of view, he will provide a break from those
involved in the coup and his lack of a military background makes a
strong statement on civilian control. Funez' appointment sends a
good signal on bipartisanship. We will engage Pascua in a frank
dialogue soon and begin a gradual process of carefully restoring a
working agenda based on civilian control of the military, full
respect for human rights, and reform of the Honduran Armed Forces
as a modern, apolitical institution.
LLORENS