CRISIS IN HONDURAS
OAS not to
recognize post-coup Honduras leaders
The head of the
Organization of American States (OAS) said
on Monday that the organization would not
recommend Honduras' post-coup leaders,
according to news reaching here from El
Salvador.
"There is no room for the military in our
region and we will not recognize the force
that has brought about this break with the
constitution," said OAS Secretary General
Jose Miguel Insulza at a joint press
conference with Salvadorian President
Mauricio Funes.
"We are only open to dialogue if that means
the return of President Manuel Zelaya to his
legitimate role," Insulza said.
Zelaya was seized by soldiers in his
official residence early Sunday morning, and
forced onto a plane which took him to Costa
Rica. Later Sunday, the nation's Congress
named Roberto Micheletti as interim
president after reading a resignation letter
that Zelaya has denounced as fake.
Insulza and Funes traveled together to
Nicaragua's capital of Managua for a Central
American Integration System (SICA) summit
and a meeting of the Group of Rio, both
opening on Monday.
The OAS "does not accept a return to the
past on the continent," said Insulza, noting
Latin America had suffered military
dictatorships during the early 20th century.
He added the OAS would hold an emergency
session on Honduras Tuesday afternoon in the
organization's headquarters in Washington.
Honduras may face sanctions under article 19
of the Inter-American Democratic Charter,
which bars a nation from participating in
the OAS if its democratic institutions are
severely undermined.
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