Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TEGUCIGALPA1685
2005-08-12 18:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, AUGUST 10, 2005

Tags:  OIIP KPAO ETRD HO USTR 
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UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001685 

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, AUGUST 10, 2005


UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001685

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, AUGUST 10, 2005



1. Op-ed by Pablo Rodas-Martini in San Pedro Sula-based
liberal daily "Tiempo" on 8/10, entitled "Rebel Countries
against CAFTA-DR." "There has been a lot of commotion these
days about the split decision made by the House of
Representatives on CAFTA-DR, approved by hardly a two-vote
difference. The split decision will remain in history, but
the important thing is that the treaty has been approved."

"As long as the U.S Congress was still discussing
ratification of CAFTA-DR, the Dominican Republic,
Nicaraguan, and Costa Rican Congresses had the luxury of
putting CAFTA-DR on the `to do list.' But as soon it was
approved in Washington, D.C., they began running out of
time."

"For these `rebel' countries there are no guarantees that
the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) will remain if they
don't ratify CAFTA. They would then only have a Generalized
Preference System, which is much weaker and more complicated
than the CBI."

"Time is running out for these `rebel countries.' Apart from
the U.S. ratification, CAFTA-DR revitalizes the negotiations
the countries have with Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Panama.
The rebel countries opposing CAFTA-DR have to face the
inconvenience that three other countries have already
approved the treaty, and also that there are four others
that are going forward while they have fallen behind."

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