MEDIA REACTION ON JOINT U.S.-HONDURAN MILITARY BASE

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001181

SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES
DEPT. FOR PM AND EB/TRA
DEPT. FOR WHA/EPSC, WHA/PPC AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO PGOV MASS EAIR EAID HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON JOINT U.S.-HONDURAN MILITARY BASE
SOTO CANO/PALMEROLA, MAY 31, 2005



1. On 05/29 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna"
published an op-ed by Habencio Varela Montoya entitled
"Important for Hondurans." "Brothers in pain and misery, to
take decisions at the national level must be our alternative
in light of the precarious economic situation in our
country. The suggestion of honest and worthy elements that
look outside our national borders has brought to our
attention the importance of a permanent place for the export
of Honduran products."

"Mother nature is prodigious; unfortunately, decision makers
in our country won't take the steps necessary to make
Honduras a place of well being and greatness for all. I want
to refer to the incomparable Airbase Palmerola, which we
know is the Promised Land for existing sophisticated
airplanes. The other port in the Atlantic, Puerto Cortes,
should be called number one in Central America."

Palmer