MEDIA REACTION ON CSI, DECEMBER 19, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002568 SIPDIS FOR WHA/PDA AND WHA/CEN FOR IIP/G/WHA AND IIP/T/ES EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PGOV PREL KPAO KHLS ASEC EWWT HO UNTERR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON CSI, DECEMBER 19, 2005 ¶1. On 1/14 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" published an editorial entitled "Secure Port." "Honduras and the U.S. just signed a `Container Security' agreement to employ security measures on containers exported from Puerto Cortes to the U.S. and other countries." "Ambassador Charles Ford declared Puerto Cortes a `Secure Port' for international shipping. U.S. Customs and Border Protection created the initiative as a part of a program to protect the U.S. territory from terrorist attacks." "Ambassador Ford explained that the initiative was created to `prevent the exploitation of global maritime cargo by terrorists as a means of damaging the U.S. and other nations of the world.' Puerto Cortes is one of three certified secure ports in Latin America, opening many opportunities for North American commerce through this Honduran port." "This is the moment to think once again about the dry canal connecting the Pacific and Atlantic ports of Honduras and to improve road infrastructure connecting us with our Central American neighbors. CAFTA-DR will begin next year and there will be competition between the countries in the region to attract foreign investment. There is no doubt that what just happened in Puerto Cortes will give our country additional means for promoting itself." Ford