MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, JULY 15, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001498 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 DEBT FORGIVENESS, JULY 15, 2005 ¶1. On 07/15, the San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" published an editorial entitled "Consultation." "President Maduro has begun a consultative process to find out how the 4 billion Lempiras received through the cancellation of our multilateral debt will be used next year. It's already been agreed that those monies, as well as those coming from the MCA, will be included in the general budget of 2006, and should be used to finance programs of social development and poverty reduction." "President Maduro has told the social sectors chosen to participate in these consultations that Honduras has never had this many resources to cope with our social needs. This may be true, but we must acknowledge that these funds have come as a result of the permanent sacrifice of the Honduran people, who have paid in excess the loans given by the industrialized countries, which has caused Honduras to be considered a HIPC country." "However, such consultations require an efficient methodology and a whole different focus, which is not currently the case, despite the good intentions of President Maduro." Tuebner