MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000653 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 KPAO HO PA ETRD USTR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON IRAQ ¶1. TV TALK SHOW "FRENTE A FRENTE" 3/12 - Renato Alvarez director and anchor interviewed President of Honduras, Ricardo Maduro on different topics related to his administration. During this hour long program key issues such as Iraq and CAFTA were discussed at length. "Question: If the United States unilaterally goes to war, will it have the support of Honduras?" "President's answer: I would like to make myself clear on this, an international terrorist is like a criminal-- we have to fight against crimmals, in a firm way, we have to be clear that in any issue of terrorism and crime we all have to cooperate. Obviously the United Nations is analyzing the case, we all wish that Iraq disarm effectively to avoid this potential threat of war - not just the United States suffered the tragedy of 9/11 but whole world suffered too. The wish of peace is our wish." "But also I would like to make it clear, here in Honduras we do fight crime, and we will also support the international fight against terrorism." ¶2. "Weekly supplement of La Prensa" 3/8 San Pedro Sula-based liberal paper, carried an editorial entitled: "For Peace": " War no, Peace yes - is the slogan of sincere pacifists, who perfectly understand that in war the real victims are the citizens. We have to understand that after the attacks in New York and Washington U.S. society feels the serious threat of the "evil axis", ".The United States has a strong tendency towards unilateralist actions. It is difficult for the United States to learn and assimilate the rules of the international political game." "It doesn't mean that those who call for confrontation to eliminate the tyrant, who invaded two neighbors and massacred to Kurds, are motivated solely by ideals of freedom and democracy; and those who raise their voices for peace-- do it with an altruistic spirit. A hidden war exist, the mother of all battles-- between European and north- American multinationalists, because of the petroleum." " The petroleum reserves are the framework of this war which we hope does not occur. What we hope for a peaceful end to the end of the craziness of the tyrant, so that we avoid future crisis." Palmer