De
Facto Honduran FM Startled by U.S.
Visa Suspension
Tegucigalpa - De facto
Honduran Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez said
Tuesday that he was surprised at the U.S.
government visa-issuing suspension for
Honduran citizens, except in cases of
emergency.
"I am surprised, but I do not have more
comments," Lopez said after meeting with the
foreign ministers' mission of the
Organization of American States (OAS) in the
Government House.
There were now more important issues at
stake, he added.
On Tuesday, U.S. Department of State
spokesman Ian Kelly said the measure, which
would take effect on Wednesday, was in
support of the OAS mission that aimed to
find a solution to the political crisis in
Honduras.
Kelly said that the visa suspension for
Honduran citizens was the "consequence of
the de facto Honduran regime's unwillingness
to sign the Agreement of San Jose."
After the June 28 coup and the ensuing
political crisis, the United States said it
would suspend 50 million U.S. dollars of
aid, and another 130 million dollars
remaining in the Millennium Challenge
Account.
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