MEDIA REACTION ON MCC, BOLIVIA AND ECUADOR, JUNE

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001291

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 EAID HO
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON MCC, BOLIVIA AND ECUADOR, JUNE
14, 2005



1. On 06/14 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna"
published an editorial entitled "The fringe of risk."
"We've been insisting that if we do not take care of the
roots of these ungovernability crises in these countries.
The hemisphere's democracy will experience serious
backslidings such as those in Ecuador and Bolivia."

"We mentioned earlier data of recent diagnosis that puts
Honduras on the `fringe of risk' because the rates of
economical inequality and human development are more
critical than the those in other countries which have
already fallen into this unstable social-political crisis."

"A recent study by the Economic Commission for Latin America
and the Caribbean [ECLAC] states that our country is still
one of the poorest countries in our region and has fallen
behind in achieving the United Nations' millennium goals in
reducing poverty by half in 2015. The same situation is
happening in Bolivia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Haiti and
Paraguay."

"Obviously MCC's $215 million contribution will come in very
handy because it will be invested in the next five years
towards rural development to increase agriculture activity
and business abilities and to reduce transportation costs
between markets."

"Poverty reduction isn't going to be miraculously achieved
because there are a great number of accumulated problems.
Social debt is enormous and people's patience in waiting for
democracy to fulfill its promises has its limits. False
expectations shouldn't be given when most of the population
is near desperation."

Pierce