US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2440

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002440 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR PD/WHA (OHILTON), IIP/G/WHA, EB/EPPD, AND WHA/CEN 
INFO IIP/T/ES 
EMBASSIES FOR PAOS, IOS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PREL, SMIG, ECON, KMCA, KPAO, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON PRESIDENT MADURO'S VISIT TO 
WASHINGTON, OCTOBER 27, 2004 
 
 
1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" 
on 10/23, entitled "Amnesty."  "President Maduro is visiting 
Washington, and because President Bush is probably busy with 
his electoral campaign, he met with Secretary of State Colin 
Powell to discuss several issues of interest to both 
countries." 
 
"Before leaving Honduras, Maduro announced that he was going 
to lobby for another TPS extension and to request more aid 
from the U.S. to fight drug trafficking. In addition, the 
discussions with Powell dealt with the high oil prices, the 
OAS General Secretariat, the situation in Haiti, and the 
fact that some Central American countries are planning to 
send troops as a result of a request from the U.S." 
 
"Even though all these issues are important, we're aware 
that the U.S. won't be able to help us that much to ease the 
crisis we're going through because of the high oil prices, 
and we already know that additional assistance to combat 
drug trafficking won't be significant, although they are the 
ones most affected by it.  Therefore, the most important 
issue for us will be the extension of TPS, which Washington 
has said will be decided after the elections." 
 
"We hope the negotiations carried out by President Maduro 
are useful for the country, and we're satisfied to know that 
he's personally taken over the negotiation on this issue 
that is essential for us." 
 
2. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" 
on 10/25, entitled "Two in the Bush."  "Honduras is one of 
the few countries to benefit from the MCA, which will 
distribute about a billion dollars for social projects among 
16 poor countries that have qualified.  This was one of the 
issues discussed by President Maduro in his recent meeting 
with Secretary of State Colin Powell, considering the fact 
that the first funds would be disbursed early next year." 
 
"Honduras needs an extraordinary amount of resources to 
stimulate its economic growth, since the package of measures 
implemented to achieve an agreement with the IMF are far 
from strengthening the economy." 
 
"Another issue discussed with Powell was the extension of 
TPS.  The U.S. government said the decision will be 
announced in 10 days, and we expect it to be positive since 
Bush himself has proposed in his campaign a mechanism 
similar to TPS for all immigrants." 
 
"The Democrats have a broader initiative in this matter, 
because they're proposing an amnesty that appears to be what 
most immigrants aspire to.  For the time being, it's better 
to have a bird in the hand than two in the bush, and a new 
TPS extension will give a breather to our countrymen living 
in the U.S." 
 
Palmer