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