MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA AND TPS, JANUARY 4, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000045 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 AND TPS, JANUARY 4, 2005 ¶1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El Heraldo" on 1/3, entitled "CAFTA with the U.S." "The year we have just begun brings several challenges for all Hondurans, and one of them is the ratification of CAFTA, an agreement with the biggest world power and our most important trading partner." "The fact that we're a small and developing country forces us to insert ourselves into the process of globalization as soon as we can, since it's a worldwide trend no country can afford to be left out of." "We must accept that getting into the movement of free trade isn't an option, it's indispensable, and even though we may be left out, it wouldn't be wise to do so because it would mean to be left practically isolated... So, our Congress should ratify CAFTA as soon as possible." ¶2. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" on 1/4, entitled "TPS and CAFTA." "Before knowing the results of the U.S. presidential elections, President Bush made the courageous decision to grant a new extension of TPS for Hondurans. Bush was reelected, among other factors, because he achieved the highest support from Hispanics yet among Republican candidates." "If the U.S. President gambled on the immigrants, considering that the Hispanic population is growing in importance and is becoming more determinant each time in the electoral process, it is likely that he will also use his influence to ensure the approval of CAFTA by the U.S. Congress." "Here in Honduras, CAFTA wasn't ratified during the holiday season as expected, despite the fact that several businessmen believed it would happen without much opposition. Right now, the situation is uncertain, it's unclear whether ratification will come after Congress begins the new legislative session or if it will be postponed until after the primary elections in February." "On the immigration issue, now that Bush is about to start his second term, the opportunity has come for Central Americans to obtain an amnesty or another kind of permanent solution. If we let time go by in the hopes of getting more extensions, it may be too late." Palmer