MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, AUGUST 9, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001684

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, AUGUST 9, 2005



2. On 08/09 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna"
published an op-ed by Eduardo Enrique Reina Garcia entitled
"Debt Forgiveness, a Moral Debt for Honduras." "The G-8
debt forgiveness has generated discussion nationwide. The
most delicate and important thing is the nationwide and
worldwide effort by many people and institutions to reflect
upon the obligatory question: `What to do with the
opportunity given to us by debt relief?'"

"Our true responsibility as a government, of which we all
are a part without exception, reemerges towards an external
debt that has come from a past full of abuse, deficient
administrations, corruption, etc.. Because of these, the
resources that should have been used for our development
haven't fulfilled their functions, increasing poverty and
lack of opportunities."

"As for debt forgiveness, our moral debt is big. Our
responsibility as a government is something that we have to
face firmly and with a clear conscience."

"It is said in Honduras that our children are born with
debt, but we are about to change that and leave a different
reality to those generations to come. This will only be
achieved with a change of mentality, investment in social
cohesion, and a fight against inequality. If others have
done it we also can, and in that way we will pay off our
moral debt."

Tuebner