Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TEGUCIGALPA1878
2005-09-13 16:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005

Tags:  OIIP KPAO ETRD HO USTR 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001878 

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, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005


UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001878

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, SEPTEMBER 12, 2005



1. On 09/11, the San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily
"Tiempo"
carried an op-ed by J. E. Mejia Ucles entitled "Reflections
on CAFTA." "CAFTA-DR's ratification is still pending. This
commercial mechanism has a false perception of opportunities
and challenges. This perception has caused some sectors to
view this treaty as a great threat to Central American
territory and sovereignty, while in reality it distorts the
perception that the treaty is a development instrument that
promotes productivity and economic growth."

"Only with free market economies can countries be
competitive. Closed markets only contribute to structural
setbacks and stagnation of a nation's economic development."

"CAFTA-DR's challenge consists of avoiding, before the
elimination of duty barriers and negotiated tariffs, the
rules and sanitary requirements that constitute unjustified
barriers to trade in agricultural products."

"Those who oppose CAFTA talk about the situation which
occurred in Honduras called `arrozazo,' [rice corruption
scandal] a situation that was created by corruption and the
payment of political favors not by dumping and the
liberalization of commerce. The scandal allowed the
excessive importation of rice with the excuse of protecting
the consumer while seriously damaging small rice producers
in the country."

"In light of this it is necessary for agricultural workers,
the agricultural industry, and the government to join forces
and maintain cooperation while identifying ways to obtain
growth in external and internal commerce."

"That is the only way to slow the decline of Central
American agricultural production and improve our poverty
indicators that Central America is living in."


2. On 09/12, the Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El
Heraldo" published an op-ed by Sigfrido Pineda Green,
executive director of `El Sol de California,' entitled
"CAFTA starts to roll." "The Bush administration has begun
to accelerate the signing of commercial treaties with
different blocks and countries, like the one in effect with
Mexico and Canada and the one recently approved with the
countries of Central America and the Dominican Republic,
under the name of CAFTA. The treaty was designed to resist
the colossal Eastern production [China]."

"Mainland China, which once was an enigmatic society
opposing the West, is opened today to the rest of the world.
China's output and productive quality represent a very
serious threat for the West, with the United States at the
top, where there are 300 million domestic consumers willing
to obtain quality product at better prices."

"CAFTA has received blessings and curses in the U.S.,
Central America, and the Dominican Republic. Governmental
bureaucrats and private sectors expressed tenaciously angry
theses opposing the just approved commercial pact."

"Despite of this bleak prognosis, seeing CAFTA as a whip to
the economy, worse than hurricane "Mitch," in Honduras there
is a great optimism for the agreement."

"Will it be, perhaps, so much beauty skin deep?"

Williard