MEDIA REACTION ON TPS, NOVEMBER 1, 2004

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002457 SIPDIS FOR PD/WHA (OHILTON),IIP/G/WHA, WHA/CEN INFO IIP/T/ES EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL SMIG KPAO HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON TPS, NOVEMBER 1, 2004 ¶1. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" on 10/30, entitled "TPS." "The decision of President Bush to extend TPS until June 6, 2006, is vital because of the critical economic and social situation the country is going through, where the problem of unemployment is significant and without an apparent solution in the short term." "We're well aware that the key to the problem of illegal immigration by Hondurans resides in creating the appropriate conditions to develop our production, to improve our trade relationships, and to establish a democratic society that creates opportunities for all here." "However, in the meantime, these aspirations would be frustrated if the U.S. doesn't offer an alternative like TPS, or better yet, granting a permanent status to all undocumented Hondurans." ¶2. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El Heraldo" on 11/1, entitled "Fifth Time." "The fifth TPS extension, which benefits more than 90,000 Hondurans, is very good news for our countrymen, their relatives, and the country in general, because not only are we still experiencing high unemployment levels, but also the our economy increasingly depends on the remittances sent by those who have fled from poverty." "An obviously excited President Maduro made the announcement on Friday in a press conference broadcast by radio and television, where he said that this generous gesture of the U.S. government was `the most important success of our foreign policy and even of our economic and social policy.' The Maduro Administration has achieved three TPS extensions, and the negotiations for the next one will be carried out by his successor." "Until the day comes when no Honduran has to leave the country due to the lack of opportunities here, we must keep aiming for a permanent status for those registered in TPS and an agreement with the USG to allow Hondurans to work temporarily in the U.S. to avoid more tragedies occurring to those still seeking the `American dream'." ¶3. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" on 11/1, entitled "Fifth Extension." "As was foreseen a few days ago by Ambassador Larry Palmer, the USG, in response to a petition by the Maduro government, has granted a fifth extension of TPS to our undocumented countrymen living in the U.S." "No one knows how many more extensions we can get, and that's why the next administration has to look for an amnesty or any other kind of permanent solution." Palmer