US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA948

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000948 
 
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, MAY 03, 2005 
 
 
1. On 5/03, the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" 
published an editorial entitled "Moral."  "A few hours 
before the Salvadoran president met with Condoleeza Rice, he 
announced that Central American presidents would meet with 
Bush in Washington to negotiate the approval of CAFTA." 
 
"It's interesting that Central Americans are received `in 
bulk,' a signal that the importance of these countries is 
not as individuals." 
 
"The South Americans, on the other hand, defied the 
preferences of the North, and gave an example of what the 
`blocks' are capable of doing. Unfortunately Central America 
lost their chance due to lack of vision and opportunity in 
the OAS elections." 
 
"Is there a moral to all this? Surely there is, but who 
knows if we understand it." 
 
Editorial in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" 
entitled "Will CAFTA be ratified?"  "CAFTA critics cross 
their fingers hoping that the U.S. Congress won't ratify the 
treaty." 
 
"Will the U.S. Congress ratify CAFTA? I dare to bet without 
hesitation that CAFTA will be ratified for four reasons: 
First, our treaty looks like child's play next to NAFTA. 
Second, in half a century the U.S. Congress hasn't rejected 
a commercial treaty negotiated by the USTR. Third, the White 
House knows that not only CAFTA is at stake, but so is his 
commercial policy. Fourth, Congressional committees are 
still discussing CAFTA. 
 
"Moral: Let's not continue crossing our fingers that the 
vote will be in favor or against it. The big challenge is to 
continue with the legal and institutional decision-making 
that will allow CAFTA's benefits to increase and the damages 
to decrease once it comes into effect, surely to happen on 
January 2006." 
 
Palmer