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LATIN AMERICA |
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Brazil
To Reconsider Stance Of Not
Recognizing Honduras' Elections
BRASILIA - The decision
made by the Honduran Congress to reject the
restoration of ousted President Manuel Zelaya compelled Brazil to reconsider its
stance of not recognizing the Nov. 29
elections.
On Wednesday, Brazilian President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva and Brazilian Foreign
Minister Celso Amorim both reiterated that
the government's position is to deny the
legitimacy of the Honduran electoral process
and not recognize the elected president,
Porfirio "Pepe" Lobo.
However, they both immediately stated that
they need time to evaluate the facts in
Honduras and reposition their stance.
Local observers said the Brazilian foreign
ministry's strategy is to wait for changes
in Honduras' domestic politics to make its
decision.
They added that the Brazilian diplomats are
waiting for further cues from the
Organization of American States (OAS) and
other countries in the region.
The Brazilian officials also said the
government may reconsider its decision if
the Honduran authorities show respect for
democratic principles, which they called a
process of "democratic baptism."
They said the Brazilian representatives
won't make a hurried decision because the
Brazilian government is likely to announce a
possible change of position after analyzing
the changing domestic situation and
political developments in Honduras.
On Friday the OAS held an extraordinary
meeting to establish an official position on
the elections in Honduras and on the
Congress' decision to reject Zelaya's return
to power.
For Brazil's foreign authorities, the
fulfillment of the agreement permitting the
return of the ousted president would have
been ideal.
According to international negotiators, it
is also essential to discuss the issue of
national reconciliation in Honduras, which
would involve a kind of unity government to
function as a transitional government.
Zelaya was overthrown by a coup on June 28
and was forced into exile in Costa Rica. He
returned to Tegucigalpa on Sept. 21 and has
taken refuge in the Brazilian embassy in the
capital of Honduras with a group of
supporters.
The embassy building is surrounded by the
military. There are limitations regarding
the admittance of persons, animals, and
materials. The tension is permanent.
The Brazilian authorities have reaffirmed
that the ousted president can remain at the
embassy as long as necessary because he is a
guest of Brazil.
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