MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, JULY 17, 2003

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001713

SIPDIS

FOR PD/WHA (JGREENBLATT); IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; EB/EPPD DCLUNE;
USTR AGASH
INFO IIP/T/ES
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOs,

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO HO PA ETRD USTR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, JULY 17, 2003



1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" on
7/17 entitled "The ball". "The Central American presidents will
meet in Guatemala to analyze the progress of CAFTA negotiations
and to follow up on an initiative presented by Spanish President
Jose Maria Aznar, who said in a meeting held in San Salvador last
week that the ball to start the negotiations for a free trade
agreement with the EU is in Central America's court."

"They will also talk about what they should have discussed before
CAFTA negotiations kicked off, the need to present a common
proposal to the US. After the show they put during the
Tegucigalpa Round of negotiations, where they were unable to move
forward as a result of the discrepancies between the Central
American negotiation teams, the presidents were required to step
up to provide the necessary political backing for their
negotiators."

"We anticipate positive results from this presidential summit,
considering that these meetings are frequent but we don't see any
results. We especially expect some progress on the regional
integration process. We'll see if Central America hands the ball
over to President Aznar."

Palmer