MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, AUGUST 25, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001774 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 25, 2005 ¶1. On 8/25 San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" published an op-ed by Fausto Leonardo Henriquez entitled "CAFTA Central America-Dominican Republic-U.S.A." "The economic agreement of July 28, 2005 has created several debates, discussions, and protests all over; the final phase in the North American Congress was fast and the votes were tight." "I've been a witness, and I have even been a participant in several fora, of the social proposal to fight against poverty in Honduras and the fears this new form of economic globalized neocolonialism brings." "CAFTA is a brotherhood among people and a path to `Americanization.' What is yet to be determined is whether or not it is unfair, and whether or not it is a disadvantage to the people involved in this treaty. This treaty is to prepare ourselves for America's continentalization, because that is what we are: America." "We are taking painful and sometimes incomprehensible steps toward a full continental identity. A process that can be considered as `Americanization.' What today seems to us as craziness is part of a journey that will end in a single idea: America." "A constitution, powers capable to restore democracy, liberty, and social justice will be born." Williard