(C/NF) KUDOS FOR COMPREHENSIVE HONDURAN ECONOMIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 092500 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/04/2034 TAGS: PINR ECON EINV HO SUBJECT: (C/NF) KUDOS FOR COMPREHENSIVE HONDURAN ECONOMIC REPORTING AMID THE POLITICAL CRISIS (C-AL9-01835) REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 000776 ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 000771 ¶C. TEGUCIGALPA 000745 ¶D. TEGUCIGALPA 000741 ¶E. TEGUCIGALPA 000701 ¶F. TEGUCIGALPA 000697 ¶G. TEGUCIGALPA 000621 ¶H. TEGUCIGALPA 000586 ¶I. TEGUCIGALPA 000565 ¶J. TEGUCIGALPA 000542 Classified By: MICHAEL P. OWENS, ACTING DIR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR EMBASSY REPORTING ON ECONOMIC PROBLEMS STEMMING FROM RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS. REFTELS WERE EXTREMELY USEFUL FOR UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS FACING THE DE FACTO GOVERNMENT AND THE OVERALL HONDURAN ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT SINCE THE JUNE 28 OUSTER OF PRESIDENT ZELAYA. INFORMATION FROM REFTELS COVERED A BROAD SPECTRUM OF TOPICS, INCLUDING ASSESSMENTS OF THE DE FACTO GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET AND THE EFFECTS OF REDUCTIONS OF INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT, AS WELL AS THE GENERAL MACROECONOMIC PROSPECTS OF HONDURAS, INCLUDING VIEWS FROM INDIVIDUALS WITHIN BUSINESS AND BANKING SECTORS. ¶2. (C/NF) YOUR REPORTING HAS BEEN INVALUABLE TO OUR ASSESSMENTS OF THE DE FACTO GOVERNMENT, PARTICULARLY THE CONSTRAINTS UNDER WHICH IT IS CURRENTLY OPERATING AND THE OUTLOOK FOR THE HONDURAN ECONOMY IN THE COMING MONTHS. IT HAS BEEN THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR THREE ANALYTIC PRODUCTS FOR SENIOR POLICYMAKERS AND A FORTHCOMING LONGER ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF HONDURAN FINANCES. INFORMATION IN RECENT REPORTING HAS NOT ONLY FILLED GAPS RELATED TO THE CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS, BUT HAS ALSO PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE GENERAL HONDURAN ECONOMIC STRUCTURE THAT WILL SHAPE FUTURE FINISHED WRITTEN PRODUCTS AND BRIEFINGS. ¶3. (C/NF) AGAIN, KUDOS TO ALL FOR YOUR INSIGHTFUL AND DETAILED REPORTING. YOUR REPORTS WILL CONTINUE TO LOOM LARGE IN OUR FINISHED PRODUCTS, AND AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, WE WOULD WELCOME ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS AND ANALYSIS. THEY MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN ENSURING OUR FINISHED PRODUCTS INCLUDE ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION, AS POLICY MAKERS GRAPPLE WITH THESE ISSUES. MANY THANKS FROM WASHINGTON. CLINTON