MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, JANUARY 11, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000074

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, JANUARY 11, 2005



1. Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" on
1/11, entitled "CAFTA cannot wait" "Such an important issue as
the ratification of CAFTA has been put off by Congress until
after the primary elections of February 20. According to
President Maduro, the textile maquila industry, the world's third
biggest exporter to the U.S., would be the most affected if
Congress keeps postponing the ratification of the agreement."

"Not everything people say about CAFTA is true, and some
organizations oppose it because they probably haven't had a
chance to become acquainted with all the provisions of the
agreement. For instance, - to cite some advantages - while
Honduras will be able export about 91% of its agricultural
production to the U.S. free of tariffs, this nation will be able
to undergo a progressive elimination of duties and tariffs for up
to 20 years."

"CAFTA reaffirms our national sovereignty, guaranteeing that
trade liberalization will not affect the environment or our
workers' rights. Besides, it establishes strong anticorruption
measures for public officials that ask or receive bribes and for
companies that allow or offer them."

"CAFTA is a countdown that cannot wait. Either we introduce
ourselves into the free market or we remain isolated from the
world, enduring the failure of a captive, inefficient,
speculative, and traditionally oppressive market."

Palmer