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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000135 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2020 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM HO
SUBJECT: USG DELEGATION TO INAUGURATION MEETS WITH 
PRESIDENT ZELAYA 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA 96 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR HUGO LLORENS FOR REASONS 1.4 (b/d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Assistant Secretary (A/S) for Western 
Hemisphere Affairs (WHA) Arturo Valenzuela, Ambassador 
Llorens, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS) for 
Western Hemisphere Affairs Craig Kelly, the Ambassador, and 
Executive Assistant to the WHA A/S Juan Gonzalez met with 
President Jose Manuel "Mel" Zelaya at the Brazilian Embassy 
on January 26, the day before he departed Honduras with 
Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez.  Brazilian 
Charge d'Affaires Francisco Catunda also attended the 
meeting.  Zelaya thanked the Ambassador for his efforts to 
attempt to avert the coup, and for protecting his wife and 
son.  Zelaya said the Honduran crisis had complicated 
international relations in the Americas.  He also said there 
will be no reconciliation among Hondurans unless they learn 
to debate ideas peacefully.  A/S Valenzuela told Zelaya that 
the U.S. has always been committed to the defense of Honduran 
democracy, but that the U.S. also wants Honduras to move 
forward and have a better future.  He encouraged Zelaya to 
play a constructive role in Honduras' future.  Zelaya 
promised to try to help and said the U.S. could count on him. 
 Brazilian Charge Catunda thanked the U.S. for its staunch 
support over many months for their Embassy and staff. 
Catunda cited our effort to ensure that regime authorities 
provided water, electricity, and allowed daily shipments of 
food to those residing inside the chancery compound.  End 
Summary 
 
¶2. (C) WHA A/S Arturo Valenzuela, WHA PDAS Craig Kelly, and 
Executive Assistant to the WHA A/S Juan Gonzalez, accompanied 
by the Ambassador, met with President Jose Manuel "Mel" 
Zelaya at the Brazilian Embassy on January 26 during their 
trip to Honduras to attend the inauguration of President 
Porfirio Lobo.  President Zelaya was accompanied by First 
Lady Iris Xiomara Castro Zelaya, advisor Rasel Tome, and his 
negotiators to the Guaymuras dialogue that resulted in the 
Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord: Victor Meza, Rodil Rivera, and 
Mayra Mejia.  Brazilian Charge d'Affaires Francisco Catunda 
also attended the meeting.  President Zelaya expressed his 
appreciation to the Ambassador for the Ambassador's efforts 
to attempt to avert the Honduran political crisis and thanked 
him for allowing Zelaya's immediate family to stay at the 
Residence in the days following the June 28 coup d'etat, 
saying that the Ambassador had "saved their lives." 
President Zelaya expressed his appreciation to President 
Obama and the Secretary for their support and for sending him 
Christmas cards.  Brazilian Charge Catunda thanked the U.S. 
for its staunch support over many months for their Embassy 
and staff.  Catunda cited our effort to ensure that regime 
authorities provided water, electricity, and allowed daily 
shipments of food to those residing inside the chancery 
compound. 
 
¶3. (C) WHA A/S Valenzuela told President Zelaya that the 
Honduran political crisis was a tragedy for Honduras and for 
the Americas.  A/S Valenzuela stated that military action to 
solve political problems is unacceptable and that democratic 
problems are not solved by udemocratic means.  A/S 
Valenzuela said the U.S. emained committed to its principled 
stance callig for restoration of the constitutional order inHonduras, but also 
needed to be practical and wantd Honduras 
to move forward and to help it have a etter future.  A/S 
Valenzuela stated that democrtic institutions need to be 
strengthened throughpolicies on behalf of the people.  A/S 
Valenzuel said there must be answers to the poverty and 
iequality that exists in the Americas, but that the ey is 
institutions rather than people promoting opulism and 
personal agendas.  A/S Valenzuela tod President Zelaya that 
he hoped that Zelaya woud be able to depart Honduras on 
January 27, as sheduled.  A/S Valenzuela also told Zelaya 
that Zeaya can play a role in Honduras' future.  Zelayapromised to try to help 
and said the U.S. could cont on him. 
 Regarding a truth commission, Zelayasaid it would have to 
be under the auspices of the international community.  He 
added that the findings of the truth commission would give 
his successor, President Porfirio Lobo, the strength to 
effect change. 
 
¶4. (C) President Zelaya told the U.S. delegation that 
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had helped Honduras and had 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00000135  002 OF 002 
 
 
never requested anything in return, adding that discounted 
Venezuelan oil was an attraction.  Zelaya pointed out that 
the National Congress approved the Bolivarian Alternative for 
the Americas (ALBA) treaty while de facto regime leader 
Roberto Micheletti was President of Congress.  Zelaya stated 
that he had consulted with the United States before joining 
ALBA.  Zelaya said he always enjoyed excellent relations with 
the United States, but that friction arose early in his 
Administration due to his policies towards oil companies. 
President Zelaya said there will be no reconciliation among 
Hondurans unless they learn to debate ideas peacefully.  He 
also said the Honduran state requires reform.  Zelaya stated 
that the Organization of American States' Democratic Charter 
should have a paragraph added to it requiring action in the 
case of a coup d'etat. 
 
¶5. (C) President Zelaya said that the more radical elements 
of the anti-coup resistance movement have called for 
violence, but that he does not accept that.  He said the 
resistance needs to be transformed into a force with which 
the government must engage in dialogue.  Zelaya explained 
that Lobo had agreed to engage in dialogue individually with 
the approximately fifty organizations that make up the 
resistance movement, but was not willing to enter into 
discussions with them together as a group, which is what the 
resistance seeks.  Zelaya responded affirmatively when WHA 
A/S Valenzuela asked him if he would stay in the Liberal 
political party. 
 
¶6. (C) The Ambassador wished President Zelaya a safe trip to 
the Dominican Republic and told him he had endured his stay 
in the Brazilian Embassy well.  The Ambassador said that the 
most difficult challenge ahead would be strengthening the 
truth commission so that it fosters a stronger democracy to 
ensure that a coup d'etat never occurs again.  The Ambassador 
told President Zelaya that he has an opportunity to play a 
constructive role in supporting the new government and 
helping promote national reconciliation in Honduras,  noting 
that the crisis has changed the Honduran nation. 
 
LLORENS