MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, DECEMBER 30, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002604 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, DECEMBER 30, 2005 ¶1. On 12/14 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" published an editorial entitled "Predicament." "The Minister of Industry announced that CAFTA wouldn't be implemented on January 1, 2006, as expected, because we aren't ready for it. The official said that the process suffered several delays and that it won't be possible to implement CAFTA, and that none of the Central American countries are ready for it." "The delay is because the countries, including Honduras, haven't approved all the necessary laws and regulations. You may remember that, before the Christmas holidays, the Minister of Industry went to Congress to push congressmen to debate the laws and approve them because it was necessary to implement CAFTA." "But despite all the effort, it wasn't possible to achieve all CAFTA-DR's legal requirements." "This administration had better hurry things before they finish their administration in January. If not, CAFTA will become an accomplishment of the new administration -- not theirs." Ford