MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ, JUNE 23, 2003

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001471 SIPDIS FOR PD/WHA (MBUCKLEY); IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; EB/EPPD DCLUNE; USTR AGASH INFO IIP/T/ES EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOs, E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO IZ HO PA SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ, JUNE 23, 2003 ¶1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" on 6/23 entitled "Chandelier". "President Bush is trying to reconfigure the U.S.'s alliances with its southern neighbors. Bush visited Europe to reunite with his colleagues from the G-8; tensions decreased between France and Germany, yet it seems Bush and Chirac do not have enough chemistry. A few weeks later the European Union, imposed sanctions on Cuba because of this country's political opposition, in a move that some have interpreted as an action to get closer to Washington." "The U.S. and Brazil are enhancing their bilateral relationship, and to prove that, President Bush agreed to aid President Lula in his `Zero Hunger Project'. Although, the Brazilian press has noted that Lula has slighted his deal because Bush did not compromise to the Brazilian aspiration to become a member of the U.N. Security Council. Chile has already signed a FTA with the U.S. Even though some Central American countries are part of the `coalition' and are sending troops to aid in Iraq's reconstruction, they still cannot sign a CAFTA agreement because the Central American countries have not yet agreed on a common proposal." Palmer