Foreign ministers from the Organisation of American States (OAS) left Honduras empty-handed after failing to negotiate a return to democracy with the interim regime. "While the committee considers that advances were made during its visit, it must be noted that there is still no willingness to accept the San Jose Accord," the delegation said in a statement Tuesday, referring to July peace talks mediated by Costa Rica.
The talks called for the return to power of ousted President Manuel Zelaya, a demand that has been rejected by the interim government led by Roberto Micheletti. Foreign ministers from Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico and Panama, led by OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, met with Micheletti for two hours in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. "The Mission considers essential the prompt return to democratic normalcy that guarantees all Honduran people security, prosperity and development," said the statement.
It also stressed the need to approve the San Jose Accord, given that the election campaign was due to start on September 1. Micheletti had initially told the delegation his new government was "not afraid of an embargo" and elections planned for November would go ahead whether or not they would be recognised by the international community. But he later backed off from that position.
"It was nice that we could make peace with Insulza, who was very kind today," Micheletti told reporters, referring to the OAS chief. "The talks were important, you need to keep talking so that we can have an outcome where all Hondurans will see peace and tranquility."
Micheletti's refusal to budge on moving to resolve the Honduran leadership crisis came as the United States sought to step up pressure on his government by announcing that it would halt most visa services in Honduras starting Wednesday.
"We firmly believe a negotiated solution is the appropriate way forward and the San Jose Accord is the best solution," said US State Department spokesman Ian Kelly, announcing the measure. During a visit Honduras, Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon expressed "great concern" at the human rights situation there since soldiers put Zelaya on a plane and flew him out of the country in a bloodless coup on June 28.
Comments
Comments are closed.