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INFO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 092655 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2019 
TAGS: PREL OVIP CLINTON HILLARY XM HO
SUBJECT: SECRETARY'S MEETING WITH HONDURAN PRESIDENT ZELAYA 
 
¶1.  Classified By: Assistant Secretary Thomas A. Shannon. 
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶2.  September 3, 2009, 1230-1330, Washington, DC. 
 
¶3.  Participants: 
 
U.S. 
==== 
The Secretary 
Undersecretary for Global Affairs Maria Otero 
PA Assistant Secretary Phillip J. Crowley 
WHA Assistant Secretary Thomas A. Shannon 
WHA Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Craig Kelly 
Ambassador Hugo Llorens 
NSC Senior Director for WHA Dan Restrepo 
WHA/CEN Gabriela Zambrano (Notetaker) 
 
 
 
Honduras 
========== 
President Manuel "Mel" Zelaya 
 
Charge d?Affairs Enrique Reina 
Hector Zelaya, son of President Zelaya 
Alejandro Sibrian, notetaker 
 
 
¶4.  (C) SUMMARY:  The Secretary stressed the United States? 
commitment to the peaceful restoration of the democratic order 
in Honduras.  She urged President Zelaya to sign the San Jose 
Accord now, refrain from provocative statements and actions, 
and announce publicly his intention to comply with its terms. 
President Zelaya promised to sign the San Jose Accord but 
insisted the de facto regime needs to sign the Accord 
simultaneously.   End Summary. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
Termination of Assistance and other Measures 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) Secretary Clinton read to President Zelaya the 
Department?s September 3 press statement announcing the United 
States is terminating a broad range of assistance to the 
government of Honduras as a result of the June 28 coup d'etat. 
The statement also mentioned the United States is in the 
process of revoking visas of individual members and supporters 
of the de facto regime and that the United States, at this 
moment, would not be able to support the outcome of the 
scheduled November 29 elections. She reiterated the decisions 
contained in the announcement were made to put pressure on the 
de facto regime to sign the San Jose Accord. 
 
--------------------------- 
Signing the San Jose Accord 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) Secretary Clinton stated the United States is 
committed to the peaceful restoration of the democratic order 
in Honduras.  She asked President Zelaya to refrain from any 
provocative statements and actions that could hinder approval 
and implementation of the San Jose Accord.  She asked 
President Zelaya to sign the Accord now to put pressure on the 
de facto regime.  She conveyed the message that Zelaya's 
opponents believe he would not abide by the Accord.  She asked 
Zelaya to announce publicly that he would leave at the end of 
his term on January 27, that he would support any type of 
verification system that would guarantee the implementation of 
the San Jose Accord, and that elections would be held as 
scheduled on November 29. 
 
¶7.  (C) President Zelaya reiterated his support for the San 
Jose Accord and his willingness to sign it.  Zelaya said 
signing the Accord provides generous concessions to the de 
facto regime, but expressed willingness to return as a 
symbolic figure of democracy.  Zelaya stated the San Jose 
Accord should be signed in Tegucigalpa rather than in San 
Jose.  Zelaya stated he would send a letter promising 
Secretary Clinton that he would sign the accord as soon as 
Micheletti signs.  Zelaya still believes the de facto regime 
will never agree to sign it. 
 
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Persecution against Zelaya?s supporters 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Zelaya stated the Micheletti regime is persecuting 
 
STATE 00092655  002 OF 002 
 
 
anybody who does not support the coup.  Zelaya stated that 24 
arrest warrants exist against him alleging his involvement in 
drugs, terrorism, and other crimes in Honduras.  Zelaya stated 
all of them are politically motivated because they were issued 
after the coup. 
 
¶9.  (C) Zelaya mentioned that Charge Enrique Reina has an 
arrest warrant against him.  Zelaya stated his cabinet members 
fear they might get arrested at an airport. 
 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
Human-rights situation deteriorating in Honduras 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶10. (C) Zelaya stated that after the coup, hundreds of people 
have been murdered in undetermined circumstances, his 
supporters have been detained, and women have been raped.  He 
said he has asked his supporters, in the meantime, not to 
attack the military. 
 
¶11. (C) Secretary Clinton said the Department of State has 
conveyed reports of alleged arbitrary arrests and beatings of 
protesters by the de facto regime to the office of the 
Attorney General, the human rights Ombudsman, and individuals 
close to the de facto regime.  She added that the United 
States will condemn violence by anyone and told Zelaya his 
supporters must refrain from any act of violence. 
 
 
---------------------------------------- 
President Zelaya?s trip to South America 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶12. (C) President Zelaya said the presidents of Mexico, 
Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru believe that if Zelaya does 
not return to Honduras by September, then he should not return 
to Honduras at all. President Zelaya stated he has not made a 
decision yet on this advice. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
- 
President Zelaya asked for more measures against the regime 
--------------------------------------------- ----------------- 
- 
 
¶13. (C) President Zelaya asked that the Department of State 
determine the June 28 coup was a military coup, he urged that 
the Department of Treasury take action to freeze Honduran 
foreign exchange reserves in the United States (which he said 
amounted to 1.5 billion dollars) and he asked that Honduras be 
removed from CAFTA.  He also asked if the United States could 
make a statement condemning the deterioration of human rights 
in Honduras. 
 
¶14. (C) Secretary Clinton stated the United States would 
examine these issued but not specify the eventual U.S. 
position. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Agrement for Charge d'Affaires Enrique Reina 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶15. (C) Zelaya asked the Department of State to expedite the 
credentialing process for Charge Reina. He stated Reina would 
have credibility with Congress if he were recognized as an 
ambassador.  The Secretary said she would look into this 
matter. 
 
------------ 
Road Ahead 
------------ 
 
¶16. (C) Secretary Clinton said the United States decided not 
to recall Ambassador Llorens because he is working in a 
constructive way to reach out to all political actors to 
restore the democratic order in Honduras.  The Secretary 
reiterated to President Zelaya that the United States would 
continue to support the peaceful restoration of democratic 
order in Honduras.  She said the United States is committed to 
President Zelaya's return in a peaceful way that would not 
cause any harm or suffering to the Honduran people. 
CLINTON