MEDIA REACTION: "INTEGRATION AND LEADERSHIP"

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002871 SIPDIS FOR PD/WHA (MBUCKLEY) INFO IIP EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, APAOS, IOs, E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO HO PA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: "INTEGRATION AND LEADERSHIP" October 11, Editorial in "Tiempo"(San Pedro Sula-based Liberal paper owned by businessman and Congressional Deputy Rosenthal): "The new U.S. Ambassador to Honduras, Doctor Larry Palmer, has begun his diplomatic work announcing that the US will continue working for regional integration." Obviously the U.S. government is convinced wisely that Central America's economic and social problems have a negative impact on the United States, mainly the substantial flow of illegal immigrants - these problems can not be resolved individually by each country but only regionally". "Ambassador Palmer's statements should not be ignored because it shows the firmness of his country's stance on the Free Trade Agreement that is now being negotiated between the United States and the Hemisphere - a Free Trade Agreement good for Central America and the United States". "The fact is that the conclusion of the NAFTA agreement between the United States and Canada can be seen not only as a tool for economic growth or as a commercial interchange, but as a way to help solve the social calamities of poverty and unemployment". Honduras understands the value of integration but until now has not taken any concrete action. It is time to make an extra effort to put it into practice--it is an urgent task for real leaders". Palmer.