MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS and EU agree on massive diplomatic effort to solve Honduras crisis

OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and Spain’s Foreign Affairs minister Miguel Angel Moratinos

The Organization of American States, OAS, and the European Union agreed Wednesday to send their ambassadors in Honduras back to Tegucigalpa, the city which they left following the June coup that deposed constitutional president Manuel Zelaya.

OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and Spain’s Foreign Affairs minister Miguel Angel Moratinos made the announcement following a meeting in New York of delegates from South American countries and Madrid representatives acting for the European Union and European Community.

“The priorities are to rapidly help establish a dialogue between the constitutional president and de facto authorities, prevent a social explosion and rein any attempts or attacks on the Brazilian embassy where Zelaya is under protection”, said Moratinos.

“The situation is extremely delicate and we want to send a very clear message to the de facto authorities of Honduras that the international community is behind the Brazilian government, the embassy, the protection, security and integrity of Mr. Zelaya and all other personnel and staff”, added Moratinos.

This coming weekend, or even before, a delegation of Latinamerican Foreign affairs ministers is scheduled to arrive in Tegucigalpa with the purpose of supporting “on the ground” the dialogue initiative and implementation of the San Jose agreement elaborated by mediator Costa Rican president Oscar Arias.

Mr. Zelaya emerged this week in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa surprising Honduran de facto president Roberto Micheletti and the country’s Armed Forces. It is not clear how Mr. Zelaya managed to return unnoticed to Honduras.

Micheletti said he is prepared to talk with Zelaya on condition that the coming November presidential election be respected. However the United Nations on Wednesday withdrew all support for the event arguing lack of political stability and concern over the “human rights situation” and respect for the Brazilian embassy compound and its staff and residents in Tegucigalpa.

Meantime the police of Tegucigalpa announced the death of a man during rioting in different parts of the city, but denied emphatically versions from Mr. Zelaya saying “the death toll was at least ten, plus injured and hundreds of arrests”.

Nevertheless hundreds of pro-Zelaya supporters took to the streets and were violently dispersed by security forces while the Brazilian embassy compound has been surrounded by a huge display of military force.

The de facto government lifted Wednesday the curfew for a few hours so people could purchase supplies, gasoline and other needs.

Meantime from Quito, temporary seat of the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, “condemned the curfew and use of force against groups in the streets calling for the return of democracy”.

UNASUR also demands the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of constitutional authorities, expresses deep concern about the serious situation in Honduras and calls for “a national dialogue and reconciliation, to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution” to the political crisis.

The organization also disavows any elections organized by non legitimate authorities and calls for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council to deal with the situation in Honduras.