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