US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA1009

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001009 
 
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 11, 2005 
 
 
1. On 05/10 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" 
published an editorial entitled "Lobby."  "The presidents of 
the Central American region and Dominican Republic started 
their tour to promote CAFTA. Their first stop was Miami, 
where they met with Jeb Bush." 
 
"The countries whose congresses ratified CAFTA are El 
Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, while in Nicaragua there 
is a lot of opposition, especially because the majority of 
parliament is against the president." 
 
"Now, the group of presidents is heading to Washington where 
they will meet with senators, congressmen and president Bush 
to dialog and discuss mutual benefits." 
 
2. Op-ed by Rafael Antonio Delgado in San Pedro Sula-based 
liberal daily "La Prensa" entitled "Presidents on tour for 
CAFTA."  "This tour shows the quality of the Central 
American governments, most of them are subordinate." 
 
"The U.S. Media and organized labor unions have made a 
thorough assessment of CAFTA, which has been signed, above 
all, to further Bush's free trade agenda, in view of the 
delays experienced by the FTAA. Consequently, their idea was 
to start the weakest link: Central America." 
 
"We are waiting to be embarrassed when we see the presidents 
`holding hands' to promote a controversial treaty for 
Central American interests and which the North Americans 
aren't sure of the need for and the contribution to the 
development of its own people." 
 
Pierce