Arias
Considering Breaking Diplomatic
Ties With Honduras
Costa Rican president, Óscar Arias, said
yesterday that the possibility of breaking
diplomatic ties with Honduras if
"constitutional order" is not restored in
the near future. Arias said that the extreme
measure would be to respect democracy and
more so, Costa Rica would never recognize
any de facto government.
"We are recalling our ambassador in
Honduras, Javier Guerra, as a first step, as
agreed during a meeting of the Sistema de
Integración Centroamericana (SICA) in
Managua earlier this week, and are
considering breaking diplomatic relations
with Honduras, as Costa Rica will not
recognize the government of Roberto
Micheletti", Arias said following a cabinet
meeting on Thursday.
Arias added that Costa Rica and the
international community cannot step down
from this position for it will be opening
the door to others to take military action
when the mood strikes or when there is a
disagreement and using force to take over a
nation.
Although Arias has expressed his support for
Manuel Zelaya from the beginning, the Costa
Rican president admitted that he doesn't
share 100% Zelaya's point of view.
"Certainly I have my disagreements with
Manuel Zelaya and we have discussed them and
though I do not share the point of view,
there must be respect. In no way having
differences with the government of the day
justifies the coup. That is unacceptable"
said Arias.
Arias believes that the ball is now in the
court of the Organization of American States
(OAS), the body with the power and the scope
that no neigbouring government can have to
reestablish peace in Honduras.
Returning from Panama to take part in the
investiture of the Panamanian president,
Arias said he cannot resist the chance to
dialogue a peace agreement, but if and only
when both parties call on him to do so.
The Honduran president is expected to return
to Honduras tomorrow (Saturday) following
the end of the 72 hour deadline imposed by
the OAS.
The Honduran de facto president has stated
that Zelaya is welcomed in Honduras, as a
private citizen, and will face charges of
corruption and will be detained by
authorities under the order of the country's
Supreme Court. |
