Washington Watch - 20 May 2010
Cuba: The Miami Herald reported on 19 May that the US State Department is involved in "low level, technical level" talks and exchanges of information to help Cuba respond if the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico approaches Cuba. Cuban government officials called US oceanographers seeking assistance last week. Aside from the fact that any oil spill could do damage to Cuba's coastal coral reefs and maritime habitats, US scientists and environmentalist stress that engagement on these issues with all of the relevant Cuban authorities is crucial. Any potential oil spill in Cuba, which is heavily targeting the development of its own off-shore deepwater oil industry, could have equally devastating consequences for US coastal areas.
Honduras: On 6 May President Porfirio Lobo confirmed the appointment of Jorge Ramón Hernández Alcerro as Honduras' new ambassador to the US, following US State Department approval. Hernández, one of the authors of the 1982 Constitution, previously held the post under the government of Rafael Leonardo Callejas (1990-1994) and was the minister of governance under the Ricardo Maduro administration (2002-2006). He has also served as a magistrate at the Central American Court of Justice in Managua, Nicaragua.
Honduras: On 17 May a new mission from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrived in Tegucigalpa for a scheduled 2010 Article IV consultation. The fund, which spent 10 days in the country in mid March, will hold further talks with Finance Minister William Chong Wong about the government's economic recovery and fiscal stabilisation plans. Chong Wong hopes the Fund will release a US$300m loan for the country in the third quarter. The central bank governor, María Elena Mondragón, will approve a new monetary programme on 20 May addressing the exchange rate. She said there was no pressure for a devaluation of the lempira at the minute, as imports are recovering more slowly than exports, allowing reserves to be rebuilt.
Honduras: On 16 May the top US military chief for Latin America, Southcom commander General Douglas Fraser, visited Honduras for the first time to mark renewed US military ties with Honduras. Fraser met the defence minister, Marlon Pascua, and members of the Honduran armed forces, as well as the US Ambassador to Honduras, Hugo Llorens. On the agenda was the fight against drugs trafficking, humanitarian assistance projects, disaster response training, human rights, educational exchanges and participation in bilateral and multinational military exercises.
Mexico: On 19 May President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa and his wife were entertained to a state dinner at the White House by President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. This was the Obamas' first state dinner for a head of state. Today, 20 May, Calderón is due to address a joint session of the US congress.