Cablegate: Honduras Given Usg January 27 Remarks On Iraq;

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000350

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR NP, IO, PM, NEA/NGA AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PARM MNUC MOPS IZ HO IAEA UNSC
SUBJECT: HONDURAS GIVEN USG JANUARY 27 REMARKS ON IRAQ;
CARDINAL CRITICIZES POSSIBLE WAR WITH IRAQ BUT MOD SAYS GOH
WILLING TO SEND TROOPS

REF: STATE 23992

1. PolOff delivered reftel text of Ambassador Negroponte's
January 27 to the UNSC and the Secretary's January 27 press
statement January 29 to MFA DG for Foreign Policy AMB Mario
Fortin. The MFA has not had a substantive reply but Fortin
told PolOff that the GOH appreciated the information.

2. Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, in his homily
during a February 3 mass in honor of the 256th anniversary of
the Virgin of Suyapa, criticized movement toward what he
termed a "third world war," which was quickly interpreted in
the press as a statement against a possible war with Iraq.

3. On the same day, Minister of Defense Federico Breve
Travieso told reporters that Honduras is prepared to send
troops to help in any war in Iraq. Breve also highlighted
the fact that the U.S. and Honduran armed forces had trained
together previously. Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Guillermo Perez-Cadalso Arias was more equivocal in his
statements to the press the same day, saying that Honduras
would support whatever decision was taken by the UNSC.
Eventually, President Maduro also issued a statement
indicating Honduras would act consistent with UNSC
resolutions.
Palmer

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