MEDIA REACTION ON THE SPECIAL SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS, JANUARY 13, 2004

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000077 SIPDIS FOR WHA/PD, WHA/CEN, AND IIP/G/WHA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO KSUM PREL HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE SPECIAL SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS, JANUARY 13, 2004 ¶1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" on 1/13 entitled "Less differences". "The Summit of the Americas was inaugurated in Monterrey, Mexico, in a context of apparent or real differences among some of the countries participating on it." "The Summit will touch on a series of interesting issues, and although there's always some doubt about the practical results of discussions, the Summit could help to reduce the tension between the U.S. and some Latin American countries." ¶2. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" on 1/13 entitled "The Summit of the Americas". "The Summit of the Americas meets in a relatively volatile environment, seeking to define the themes of a broad declaration about the most important issues in our Hemisphere." "Ppoverty, which was one of the most widely present issues in previous Summits, no longer has the impact it used to, largely because its influence on the media has obviously decreased, although its importance has not. Now, we need concrete and tangible actions to combat it, rather than just political declarations on poverty." "It appears that the final document of the Summit will highlight the importance of small and medium enterprises for the development of Latin America, as well as the need to put an end to corruption." Palmer