MEDIA COVERAGE ON THE VISIT OF CJCS GENERAL RICHARD

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001940 SIPDIS FOR WHA/PD (OHILTON),WHA/CEN (TKELLY),PM, AND INL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO MOPS PGOV SNAR HO IZ SUBJECT: MEDIA COVERAGE ON THE VISIT OF CJCS GENERAL RICHARD MYERS TO HONDURAS, AUGUST 13, 2003 ¶1. CJCS visited Honduras on 8/13 and met with Honduran President Ricardo Maduro, Minister of Defense Federico Breve, Chief of Staff General Isaias Barahona and other key governmental officials. ¶2. In his opening remarks, General Myers expressed his appreciation for Honduran support of the U.S. effort to establish a free and democratic government in Iraq and in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. He also thanked Honduras for being the first country in the Western Hemisphere to sign and ratify an ICC Article 98 agreement. ¶3. All four national newspapers (La Tribuna, El Heraldo, La Prensa and Tiempo) announced General Myers' visit on 8/12 and La Tribuna, El Heraldo and La Prensa followed up on 8/13 on the possible issues to be addressed during the visit and published a bio. The two most important radio networks in Honduras (HRN and Radio America) also announced the visit on 8/12. Media Coverage on General Myers' visit -------------- ¶4. Newspapers: All four Honduran newspapers had full-page coverage of the press conference by General Myers and President Ricardo Maduro. Two of them (Tegucigalpa-based "El Heraldo" and San Pedro Sula-based "La Prensa") carried a front-page photo of General Myers. ¶5. Television: Coverage on the main television stations was extensive. All evening news programs (channels 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13) reported on the visit and coverage continued on 8/14 on the morning news program Noticiero TVC (channels 3, 5, and 7). ¶6. Radio: Radio networks HRN, Radio America, and other smaller stations also covered the visit. Some of them broadcast the press conference live. Also international wires AP, AFP, Reuter, Notimex, Acan-Efe, and CNN Radio covered the visit. ¶7. Headlines: - "The U.S. will support the fight against drug trafficking" La Prensa. - "Thanks Honduras for sending troops to Iraq" La Tribuna. - "Honduras needs to do more in the fight against drug trafficking" La Tribuna. - "The U.S. wants the destruction of dangerous arms that may fall in the wrong hands" La Tribuna. - "Nicaragua needs to destroy its SAM-7 missiles" Tiempo. - "There will be help, promises Richard Myers" "Even though the helicopters have to wait, the Chief of Staff promised to consider the request" El Heraldo. Pierce