OAS
Mission In Honduras Ends Without
Breakthrough
Tegucigalpa - A mission
of the Organization of American States (OAS)
in Honduras seeking a solution to the
country's political deadlock ended Tuesday
without breakthrough.
The mission, led by OAS Secretary General
Jose Miguel Insulza, hoped to persuade the
interim government into accepting a deal and
having the ousted President Manuel Zelaya
back to power until a national election is
held in November.
The San Jose Accord, brokered last month by
Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, also
called for the establishment of a national
reconciliation government formed by the
interim regime and the ousted president.
"Still, Mr. (Roberto) Micheletti and his
supporters do not have the disposition to
fully accept" the deal, said Costa Rican
Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno.
Nevertheless, the mission, which included
foreign ministers from Costa Rica, Panama,
Mexico, Argentina, Jamaica and Dominican
Republic, insisted that San Jose Accord
should provide an "immediate, balanced and
viable path to restore the democratic order
in Honduras."
The mission arrived in Honduras on Monday
amid a taxi drivers' protest demanding the
payment of a bonus by the Honduran interim
government. Supporters of the ousted
President Manuel Zelaya also announced
protests.
It had met with officials of the interim
government, members of Zelaya's government
and the deposed president's wife, Xiomara
Castro.
Micheletti, who took over as interim
president hours after the June 28 coup, said
his government would stick to the plan to
hold a presidential election in November.
"There will be elections whether they are
recognized or not," Micheletti said, adding
that his country could survive any economic
sanctions imposed over the refusal to
reinstate Zelaya.
"We are not afraid of anyone's embargo,"
Micheletti told the ministers. "This country
can get by without your support."
The United States said on Tuesday that it
would cut its visa services in Honduras in a
move that increased pressure on the de facto
government.
"We are suspending non-emergency,
non-immigrant visa services in the consular
section of our embassy in Honduras,
effective Aug.26," State Department
spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement.
Kelly said that the U.S. move to limit visa
services in Honduras was intended to
reinforce the ongoing OAS efforts to
persuade the de facto government to accept
the San Jose deal.
"We firmly believe a negotiated solution is
the appropriate way forward and the San Jose
Accord is the best solution," the spokesman
said.
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