MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Arias calls for support for Honduras November election

Costa Rica president Oscar Arias mediator of the conflict

Costa Rica’s president Oscar Arias called on the international community to collaborate with Honduras November presidential election, avoiding isolating the de facto regime, thus helping to find a way out to the current crisis.

“The worst that can happen is to isolate Honduras”, said Arias who insisted the international community must do its outmost to ensure the electoral process takes place.

President Arias who is acting as a mediator in the Honduras crisis since the ousting of elected President Manuel Zelaya last June, called on both sides of the conflict to sign and abide by his proposal which contemplates the reinstatement of Zelaya and an amnesty for the military involved in his ousting.

Arias currently in Miami said that last Monday he was on the phone with interim Honduran president Roberto Micheletti who told him he was willing to lift the decree imposing a state of siege so the electoral process could advance.

“He agreed with me that without individual rights and constitutional guarantees suspended no electoral campaign can take place”, said Arias.

“The worst that can happen to Honduras is that a majority of countries do not recognize the winner of elections scheduled for November 29”, he emphasized.

Meanwhile the main business organization of Honduras proposed a plan which reinstates Zelaya, with limited powers, and the deployment of a multinational force to ensure peace and transparency of the whole electoral process.