CODEL STEVENS VISIT TO HONDURAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R000801110013-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: March 2, 1984
• Content Type: CABLE

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PRIORITY
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INCOMING
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TOR: 0215182 MAR 84
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DE RUEHTG #2584/01 0621420
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
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FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0731
INFO RUEOEHA/USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PN
RUEBSAA/COMJTF-A COMAYAGUA HO
RUEBSAB/CDRLABEL CERRO MTT RMTC FT BRAGG NC
RUEHLL/CONTADORA COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
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S E C R E T TEGUCIGALPA 02584
E.O. 12356: DECL: DADR
TAGS: PGOV, MASS, OREP, HO, PINR, EFIN
SUBJECT: CODEL STEVENS VISIT TO HONDURAS
1. (U) SUMMARY: CODEL STEVENS VISITED EVERY MAJOR
MILITARY ACTIVITY, CURRENT OR PLANNED, DURING ITS VISIT
TO HONDURAS TO REVIEW MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THEY RECEIVED IN-DEPTH BRIEFINGS FROM GENERAL GORMAN FROM
SOUTHCOM, AND GENERAL WOERNER ACCOMPANIED THEM THROUGHOUT
THEIR TRAVELS. IN ADDITION, THEY CALLED UPON MINISTER
OF THE PRESIDENCY CARLOS FLORES FACUSSE, GENERAL GUSTAVO
ALVAREZ AND MET WITH THE FDN. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) SENATOR TED STEVENS (R-AK). ACCOMPANIED BY
SENATORS MACK MATTINGLY (R-GA), WARREN RUDMAN.;(R-NH),
AND PETE WILSON (R-CA), SIX STAFFERS FROM THE SENATE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE. AND FOUR DOD REPRESENTATIVES,
VISITED HONDURAS FEBRUARY 24-26, 1984. THE PRIMARY PUR-
POSE OF THEIR VISIT WAS TO REVIEW PAST AM) .FUTTURE.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES AND TO DETERMINE WHETHER
SUCH ACTIVITIES HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY PERFORMS' UNOER THE
AHUAS TARA EXERCISES WITHOUT CONIRtESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION
THEY VISITED PREVIOUS EXERCISE SITES AT SAN LORENZO,
TRUJILLO, AND AGUACATE, A FUTURE EXERCISE SITE AT
CUCUYAGUA, RADAR SITES AT TIGER ISLAND AND CERRO LA MOLE,
THE MILCON SITE AT LA CEIBA AIRFIELD, THE REGIONAL
MILITARY TRAINING CENTER AND NEARBY EXERCISE SITES, AT
TRUJILLO, AND THE JOINT TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS AND MILCO
PROJECT AT PALMEROLA. THEY RECEIVED DETAILED BRIEFINGS
FROM GENERAL PAUL GORMAN AND WERE ACCOMPANIED ON THEIR
TRAVELS AROUND HONDURAS BY GENERAL FRED WOERNER.
IN ADDITION TO THEIR PRIMARY SCHEDULE, THE DELEGATION
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BREAKFASTED WITH MEMBERS OF THE FDN LEADERSHIP,
ATTENDED A RECEPTION WITH LEADING HONDURAN POLITICAL,
BUSINESS, AND MILITARY FIGURES, AND MET WITH MINISTER OF
THE PRESIDENCY CARLOS FLORES AND CHIEF OF THE ARMED
FORCES GENERAL GUSTAVO ALVAREZ.
4. CARLOS FLORES FACUSSE, MINISTER OF THE PRESIDENCY
-----------------------------------------------------
(C) SBIATOR ST!VVNS EXPLAINED THE PtWMOSE OF ' THE DELEGA-
TION'S USAGE OF ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR MILITARY CO5TRUC=
TIOI. STEVENS SAID HE WAS PJASEI) WITH THE. RESULTS OF
A UAS TARA I'WO. MEOW MMO 1E0N REVIEW IN HEARINGS
WORE HIS ITTEE, AND MOM THAT GOOD RELATIONS
BETWEEN S AND 'TIME U. S. AND THE EXERCISE PROGRAM
VEULD COWI18JE. THE CONVERSATION TURNED THEN TO ECONOMIC
ISSUES, WITH SENATOR MATTINGLY ASKING ABOUT RECENT
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HONDURAN ECONOMY AS A RESULT OF THE
SUGAR QUOTA CHANGE OR OTHER FACTORS. CARLOS FLORES
REPLIED THAT THE GOH WAS NOW TRYING TO GET THE SAME
SORT OF UNDERSTANDING OUT OF THE ECONOMIC SIDE OF THE
USG THAT IT HAD RECEIVED FROM THE POLITICAL SIDE. AND
THAT A HIGH-LEVEL GOH DELEGATION HAD RECENTLY VISITED
WASHINGTON TO PURSUE THIS. ONE ISSUE OF PARTICULAR
IMPORTANCE, HE SAID. WAS A NEED FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY
IN AID PROGRAMS BECAUSE IT APPEARS THAT, AS ECONOMIC
CONDITIONS WORSEN, THE CONDITIONS FOR FURTHER DISBURSE-
MENTS GET TIGHTER. AND IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO COME
UP WITH THE GOH COUNTERPART FUNDS. LAST YEAR HONDURAS
RECEIVED $38 MILLION IN ECONOMIC SUPPORT FUNDS (ESF) AND
WILL RECEIVE $40 MILLION THIS YEAR. BUT NONE OF IT COULD
BE DISBURSED LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE TIGER CONDITIONS
SURROUNDING ITS USE. THIS CAUSED EVEN GREATER HARDSHIP
BECAUSE THE GOH HAD BUILT THAT MONEY INTO ITS BUDGET
PLANNING. EVEN THOUGH NOT DISBURSED, IT ADVERSELY
AFFECTED THE POSSIBILITY OF OBTAINING FUNDS FROM OTHER
SOURCES SINCE THEY POINT TO THE ALLEGED U.S. AID AS REIN
ADEQUATE. THE SUGAR QUOTA INCREASE WAS HELPFUL BECAUSE
THE SUGAR INDUSTRY WAS DEPRESSED WITH LOW PRICES AND A
LACK OF DEMAND. HONDURAS FINDS ITSELF IN A SORT OF CATC
22 SITUATION WITH REGARD TO AID AND THE IMF STANDBY
FACILITY. IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
IMF, BECAUSE SO MUCH OTHER ASSISTANCE IS CONDITIONED
UPON THAT, BUT THE IMF CONDITIONS ARE VERY DIFFICULT --
THE ECONOMY CANNOT BE SO DEPRESSED AND THEN REJUIVENATED
IN ONLY ONE YEAR. RATHER THAN MEASURING EVERY SITUATION
BY THE SAME YARDSTICK, THE IMF AND AID NEED TO TAKE INTO
ACCOUNT DIFFERING SITUATIONS AND THE REAL PROGRESS THAT
HAS BEEN MADE.
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PGOV, MASS, OREP, HO, PINT, EFIN
SUBJECT: CODEL STEVENS VISIT TO HONDURAS
(C) SENATOR WILSON ASKED ABOUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF
THE CONTADORA NEGOTIATIONS. CARLOS FLORES REPLIED THAT
CONTADORA HAS NOW RECOGNIZED THAT THE SOLUTIONS TO CENTR
AMERICA'S PROBLEMS LIES IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND THAT IT
COULD NOT IMPOSE SOLUTIONS FROM OUTSIDE. CURRENTLY,
THE CONTADORA GROUP HAS DIVIDED INTO THREE WORKING GROUP
ON POLITICAL ECONOMIC AND SECURITY ISSUES TO DEVELOP
SPECIFIC MEANS OF IMPLEMENTING THE 21 POINTS AGREED TO A
A BASIS FOR NEGOTIATION BY THE NINE CONTADORA COUNTRIES
IN NOVEMBER. IN THE POLITICAL WORKING GROUP, THE MAIN
EFFORT CENTERS AROUND DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES IN CENTRAL
AMERICA, BECAUSE DEMOCRACY IS ESSENTIAL TO PEACE IN
SECRET
L.. "C. 0"ISS1 #V 0
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CENTRAL AMERICA. HONDURAS IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE
UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN NICARAGUA BECAUSE THEY APPEAR
DESIGNED ONLY TO LEGITIMIZE THE TOTALITARIAN SYSTEM THE
SANDINISTAS HAVE INSTALLED. THEY HAVE SCHEDULED THEM AT
THE SAME TIME AS THE US ELECTIONS IN THE HOPE THAT THEY
WILL THUS ESCAPE MUCH ATTENTION AROUND THE WORLD. SENAT
WILSON ASKED HOW MUCH PRESSURE CONTADORA IS PLACING ON
NICARAGUA TO MAKE THE PROCESS LESS OF A FARCE. IN FLORE
OPINION, MEXICO IS PLAYING ALONGSIDE NICARAGUA, TO GIVE
THEM A SCREEN. THERE HAS YET TO BE A CLEAR INDICATION
OF WHERE THE NEW VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT STANDS. PANAMA
IS CONSISTENTLY ON THE SIDE OF DEMOCRACY, AND COLOMBIA
APPEARS TO VACILLATE FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER.
(C) SENATOR MATTINGLY ASKED ABOUT THE REVIVAL OF CONDECA
TO WHICH CARLOS FLORES REPLIED THAT IT WOULD TAKE A LONG
TIME TO CREATE THE NECESSARY POLITICAL FRAMEWORK AND THA
IT WOULD BE A DIFFICULT PROCESS. WITH REGARD TO THE
EXERCISE PROGRAM, FLORES NOTED THAT THEY WERE VERY
EXPENSIVE FOR HONDURAS BECAUSE OF FUEL. TRANSPORT, AND
PERSONNEL COSTS BUT THAT THE POLITICAL BENEFITS HAVE
OUTWEIGHED THE ECONOMIC DRAIN THEY REPRESENT.
5. GENERAL GUSTAVO ALVAREZ
--------------------------------------------------------
(C) TO OPEN THE DELEGATION'S MEETING WITH GENERAL
ALVAREZ AT THE AIR FORCE OFFICER'S CLUB, SENATOR STEVENS
ASKED ABOUT THE LIKELY REACTION OF NICARAGUA TO HONDURAS
IMPROVED MILITARY CAPABILITIES AS A RESULT OF THE
EXERCISES AND U.S. MILITARY ASSISTANCE. ALVAREZ REPLIED
THAT THE EXERCISES HAVE BEEN A DETERRENT FOR THE
NICARAGUANS AND HAVE MADE THE HONDURAN MILITARY INTO A
CREDIBLE FORCE WHICH HE HOPED WOULD HELP SOFTEN THE
NICARAGUAN STANCE. OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY HAS INCREASED
DRAMATICALLY; THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AHUAS TARA ONE AND
AHUAS TARA TWO WERE STRIKING WITH REGARD TO THE HONDURAN
ARMED FORCES PERFORMANCE. SENATOR STEVENS THEN ASKED
ABOUT THE UPGRADE IN HONDURAN ARTILLERY CAPABILITIES.
ALVAREZ REPLIED THAT THE UPGRADE HAD BEEN PROGRAMMED
LONG BEFORE THE EXERCISES HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED, BUT THAT
THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EXERCISES TO
ADVANCE THEIR TECHNIQUES. ONCE THE REMAINING 6 105MM
ARTILLERY PIECES ARE DELIVERED LATER THIS SPRING. THEY
WILL HAVE 24. WHICH IS NOT ENOUGH. HE SAID, FOR THE
MINIMUM DETERRENT FORCE PLANNED OF 3 BATALLIONS OF 12
TUBES EACH. (EMBASSY NOTE: THE FINAL SIX 105MM
ARTILLERY RIFLES WERE DELIVERED TO THE HAF ON
FEBRUARY 8).
(C) ALVAREZ ALSO BROUGHT UP, THE ELECTIONS WHICH WILL
SOON BE HELD IN NICARAGUA. THEY ARE TROUBLING BECAUSE
ONE DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION OF LEGITIMIZING
SOMETHING THAT IS SO OBVIOUSLY A FARCE. THE GOH WANTS
TO GUARANTEE LIBERTY AND THE DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN HONOUR
AND COOPERATE WITH OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.
ALVAREZ EMPHASIZED THAT IF THE U.S. HELPS HONDURAS
ESTABLISH A MINIMUM FORCE IT COULD BE BOTH ASSISTING
HONDURAS AND BE A HELPFUL FACTOR THROUGHOUT THE REST OF
CENTRAL AMERICA. LOOKING AT THE WORLD SITUATION IN THE
FUTURE, AS THE US IS PRESSURED BY THE USSR, A STRONG
HONDURAS CAN BE HELPFUL. IT IS FAR EASIER AND CHEAPER
TO ASSIST HONDURAS NOW THAN IN THE FUTURE.
(S/NF) SENATOR RUDMAN ASKED ABOUT THE COMPOSITION OF THE
MINIMUM FORCE GENERAL ALVAREZ HAD MENTIONED. HE REPLIED
THAT IT WOULD CONSIST OF 4 INFANTRY BRIGADES OF 2,500-
H PASS TO SENATOR STEVENS
NOFORN
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
SECRET
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/11: CIA-RDP90BO137OR000801110013-7
SECRET
84 3524421 SSP PAGE 004 NC 3524421
TOR: 021518Z MAR 84
TAGS: PGOV, MASS, OREP, HO, PINR, EFIN
SUBJECT: COOEL STEVENS VISIT TO HONDURAS
3,000 MEN EACH, 3 BATALLIONS OF 155MM ARTILLERY, A
SUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF HELICOPTERS FOR TACTICAL MOBILITY
AN AIR TRANSPORT SQUADRON OF C-130'S AND SMALLER MEDIUM
TRNASPORTS TO ENABLE HONDURAS TO MOVE A BRIGADE AND ALL
ITS EQUIPMENT IN UNDER 24 HOURS. AND RESERVES OF 6,000
MEN.
(S/NF) AFTER TOUCHING UPON SEVERAL OTHER TOPICS,
INCLUDING THE JET TRAINERS HONDURAS IS BUYING FROM ITALY
AND BRAZIL AW THE CORROSION P.ROEL, I OFTME SUPER
THE !OPOLOMW OR` nW' Al.'lf ,'t 00tim OUT t" r ONRZNO '11i sAtsES. . ALVAREZ REPLIES 'CHAT THEY HOPED
TO NAMAIN PAVE THE AIR AP AT WATT AND YIODULD YR
THE SMATI y 'I I_, THE
MAP-pl1CT'ES ' M}I ElIOINEERIMS/CX
NEOROPONTE
SECRET
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