MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, AUGUST 22, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001746

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 22, 2005



1. On 08/22 the Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El
Heraldo" ran an op-ed by Juan Carlos Elvir, mayor of Santa
Rosa de Copan, entitled "Keys for the Future of Honduras."
"There is no doubt that the subject of the moment is the
external debt relief which creates a lot of expectations
about our future; also a matter of concern is where those
resources should go to help those sectors in the country
most in need. Now more than ever, corruption and lack of
resources are becoming serious obstacles for any action in
the fight against poverty."

"In reality, the country requires a more accelerated state
structural reform, a decision that should be dynamic and
with a clear vision, factors that are not present at this
moment. There should be a democracy that integrates, as it
really should be, the whole territory and the nation's
population. For this integrated democracy the best strategy
should be a decentralization of power so that a new state-
society relationship should be established."

"Since 1995 Santa Rosa de Copan has been managing a citizen
participation process. This is a clear sign that in the
country local democracy has gone farther and accomplished
more than the central government will be willing to
recognize. We have to conclude that this sustainable process
can only be achieved if civil society has enough power."
"To put into practice real citizen participation there
should be enough freedom to accomplish the maturity required
from civil society to consolidate this process successfully.
It is also fundamental to know where are we going and what
we wish to accomplish. A way to avoid a deviation in our
path is to plan and establish indicators that will show us
the correct way to go."

"Today more than ever we, who belong to the political class
of this country, should be aware that we have few available
alternatives to develop the country and that one alternative
is to promote a responsible decentralization and guarantee
transparency in resource management."

Williard