MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, MAY 11, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001009

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES
DEPT. FOR EB/TPP DCLUNE, WHA/EPSC AND WHA/CEN
DEPT. PASS USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO ETRD HO USTR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, MAY 11, 2005



1. On 05/10 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna"
published an editorial entitled "Lobby." "The presidents of
the Central American region and Dominican Republic started
their tour to promote CAFTA. Their first stop was Miami,
where they met with Jeb Bush."

"The countries whose congresses ratified CAFTA are El
Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, while in Nicaragua there
is a lot of opposition, especially because the majority of
parliament is against the president."

"Now, the group of presidents is heading to Washington where
they will meet with senators, congressmen and president Bush
to dialog and discuss mutual benefits."


2. Op-ed by Rafael Antonio Delgado in San Pedro Sula-based
liberal daily "La Prensa" entitled "Presidents on tour for
CAFTA." "This tour shows the quality of the Central
American governments, most of them are subordinate."

"The U.S. Media and organized labor unions have made a
thorough assessment of CAFTA, which has been signed, above
all, to further Bush's free trade agenda, in view of the
delays experienced by the FTAA. Consequently, their idea was
to start the weakest link: Central America."

"We are waiting to be embarrassed when we see the presidents
`holding hands' to promote a controversial treaty for
Central American interests and which the North Americans
aren't sure of the need for and the contribution to the
development of its own people."

Pierce