MEDIA REACTION ON DEBT FORGIVENESS, DECEMBER 27,

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002585 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, DECEMBER 27, 2005 ¶1. On 12/27 the San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" published an editorial entitled "Debt Forgiveness." "Debt relief is forgiving, it isn't a synonym for repatriating money, having more loans, or for the government to use it freely." "In this debt forgiveness lottery we are not including the $215 million Millennium Challenge Account." "This program was approved by the U.S. President, George Bush, in February, 2003 and ratified by the Honduran Congress in December, 2003." "But with this forgiveness not everything is good because our authorities have to fulfill a lot of serious commitments." "The most important one to achieve is the Poverty Reduction Strategy, presented by Honduras to the international organizations." "Bush warned that the Millennium Challenge Account `was approved for countries that govern with justice, invest in people and promote economic freedom." "It is a warning for Honduras to manage with justice and to fight against corruption." ¶2. On 12/23 the San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" ran an editorial entitled "Debt Forgiveness." "IMF's decision to forgive 100 percent of Honduras' debt and eighteen other countries is the result of a long and torturous process of almost eight years that probably will end at the beginning of next year." "Of a total of $3.3 billion debt relief, Honduras will receive approximately $130 million, which might open the doors to the World Banks' $1.3 billion debt relief." "This is an enormous responsibility and a challenge to the government, national leadership and the nation altogether, because it is an opportunity to rescue our country from underdevelopment and social marginalization, which is a task that can only be achieved through unity." "Respecting the fight against poverty it is not only to establish an adequate platform to boost economic growth and goods production and services to satisfy internal necessities and export, but also to promote social development, honesty and administrative efficiency, democratic security and legitimacy of political, economic and social leadership." Ford