MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, MARCH 3, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000483

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, MARCH 3, 2005



1. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" on
3/3, entitled "CAFTA CA-USA." "Congress is about to discuss and
approve CAFTA next week, despite the strong opposition of some
organizations part of the Popular Block (Bloque Popular),as well
as other peasant and civil society organizations."

"However, it seems that there are enough votes in Congress to
ensure its approval, with the exception of Congressmen of the
Democratic Unification Party, after some last-minute negotiations
with opposition parties which were carried out, above all, to
give the impression that CAFTA has been democratically discussed
among various sectors."

"For Honduras, the weight of the commitments acquired by
participating in this multilateral agreement, as well as the
specific interests of the manufacturing sector -especially the
maquila's- have practically ensured the approval of CAFTA."

"However, its approval should also include the commitment to
provide financial and technical assistance to the agricultural
sector, to prevent the negative effects that NAFTA has had in
some areas in southern Mexico, where they haven't implemented the
development programs conceived in the framework of that trade
agreement."

Palmer