UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 003429

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR INL/LP, WHA/PD AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL KCRM KJUS PHUM HO
SUBJECT: HERO OF THE WEEK -- INL PROGRAM SIGNLED OUT BY
LOCAL NEWSPAPER

REF: STATE 259957


1. Tegucigalpa's local El Heraldo newspaper singled out the
December 18 signing of the INL face sheet amendment as a
"hero" of the week. The paper praised the U.S. as
Wednesday's hero because the INL program donated 12.7 million
lempiras (750K USD) to support the fight against drug
trafficking in a signing ceremony with Vice President Armida
de Lopez Contreras, who is also the head of the Honduran
Government's National Commission to Fight Drug Trafficking.
The newspaper chose the INL program donation for its regular
daily feature in its December 19 edition and then re-ran the
piece in its weekly summary in its Sunday, December 22
edition as well.


2. The Mission's INL program officer and PAS office worked
closely on the press release and PAS did an excellent job in
spreading the good news. PAS also posted the press release,
photos from the ceremony, and the Ambassador's remarks on the
Embassy web page. Publicity from the event also caught the
attention of other government ministers who were quick to
approach the INL program officer for additional details on
the distribution of the funds.


3. Post signed its face sheet amendment on December 18 in a
signing ceremony with Vice President Armida de Lopez
Contreras. Funds will be sub-obligated expeditiously to
various projects, as approved by INL in reftel.
Palmer