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