Costa Rica's Arias To Continue Efforts For
Peace In Honduras
Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, has not
given up on a peace plan for Honduras. As
the chief mediator in the Honduran political
crisis, Arias, said on Monday that he will
meet with the Honduras presidential
candidates to emphasize that the upcoming
elections will not be recognized if held
under the government of Roberto Micheletti.
Arias is expected to meet on Wednesday at
least four of the six candidates to the
November elections in Honduras, in an effort
to gain their support for restoring ousted
president, Manual Zeleya.
Arias has been the leading negotiator for
the US backed efforts to restore Zelaya.
Brazil earlier this week made it clear that
it will not recognize any government other
than that of Zelaya. Arias is expected to
emphasize that the international community
will not recognize any government formed
before a Zelaya restitution.
As part of Aria's multi point peace plan
outlined during the last rounds of
negotiations between Zelaya and Micheletti
supporters was a new election in Honduras,
but only after Zelaya is restored to power
and with the promise that Zelaya would not
run for another term.
Arias, a Nobel Peace prize winner, has been
frustrated in his efforts to bring the two
sides to a conclusion of a crisis that is
now almost 3 months old.
"The ides is to speak with the frankly",
said Arias, explaining that there is no use
for an elections when any government formed
would not be recognized.
Arias is known for his insistence and is
expected to keep pounding on the doorsteps
of the Micheletti government to back down
and restore Honduras' rightful and elected
president, who as ousted by military force
on June 28.
Coup d'etat leader and interim president,
Roberto Micheletti, has rejected the Arias
plan despite mounting international support.
Micheletti, who refused to meet Zelaya
face-to-face at the private of home of Arias
in July, is staunch in his refusal to allow
Zelaya's return, not only to power, but to
Honduras, in a dispute over the ouster
leader's efforts to change the constitution
of Honduras.
Both the United States and many Latin
American countries have joined Brazil in
warning of their unwillingness to recognized
the results of the November elections unless
Zelaya is back in office.
Last week, Washington increased the pressure
by revoking the U.S. visas of Micheletti and
17 other Honduran officials
On Monday, Brazil, Argentina and Mexico
refused to accept the participation of the
Honduran ambassador at a meeting of the U.N.
Human Rights Council in Geneva because he is
not from Zelaya's government.
Belgium Ambassador Alex Van Meeuwen, who
presides at the U.N. rights council, said he
would seek to clarify whether Urbizo is
allowed to represent Honduras in the
council. Council spokesman Rolando Gomez
said that "no decision has been taken."
Micheletti insists the November presidential
election, which had been scheduled before
the coup, will show the world that democracy
remains intact in Honduras.
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