MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, JUNE 16, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001290

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, JUNE 16, 2005



1. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo"
on 6/16, titled "North-South." "In the North American view,
Latin America is actually divided into two blocks, with
different objectives and point of views concerning the
continental future and also a different political
conceptualization. The blocks' `North-South' structure
implies countries grouping themselves together according to
their interests and their political orientation and their
commercial relationships with the U.S."

"There is now a more concrete alignment: the North block is
compose of the U.S., Mexico, Canada, which are associated by
CAFTA. In addition Chile, Central American countries,
Dominican Republic which are in progress of establishing a
similar CAFTA, and maybe Colombia. The South block is
composed of Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay and
Uruguay and which, according to Ambassador Rocha, former
U.S. ambassador, doesn't have commercial relationships or a
significant population presence with the U.S."

"For example, within the mechanical conception it would be
necessary to explain Mexico's situation and its historical
bipolar relationships with the U.S. and also with Canada
with its Anglo-French dichotomy. There are two Mexicos, the
north and south. South is in an integration process with
Central America and in part with Colombia in the Puebla-
Panama Plan context, Mexico's development plan."

"On the other hand we shouldn't leave the existence of Latin
American common culture unwarned which also plays a
preponderant role in the towns' relationships. Teddy
Roosevelt's `Panamericanism' (`America for all Americans')
didn't disappear, even less no other exceeded it. The
`Americanism' of the great Latin American thinkers haven't
lost value, they even have new spirit."

"It's very clear that within the `panamericanist' model
there has been transcendental progress, like the politics of
the `good neighbor' President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the
Alliance for Progress by President John Fitzgerald Kennedy,
naturally derived from World War II and its extension to the
Cold War which in the end reunited Germany and the European
Union arose. This new version of U.S. continental politics,
including the `panamericanism,' comes from a particular
interpretation in leading the world war against terrorism.
In these conditions the theory offers big gaps and
formidable concerns."