MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Crucial “reconciliation day” for Honduras political crisis

Patrica Rodas has warned that the agreement falls if Zelaya is not reinstated

“We believe Honduran President (Manuel) Zelaya should be restored to power,” State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters on Wednesday, but he added that Washington was focused on implementing the whole agreement reached over the weekend and the process was “now for Hondurans to decide”.

According to the agreement between ousted Zelaya and the de facto government led by Robert Micheletti, the Honduran 128 member Congress has to decide on Zelaya's reinstatement after consulting the Supreme Court. The agreement also opens the way for November 28th presidential elections which should contribute to normalize the political and institutional situation of Honduras.

“We are committed to the agreement. We're committed to its implementation. We'll continue to assist and support the implementation process, but it's up to the Hondurans to actually carry through,” said spokesman Kelly.

However Zelaya claims Congress and the Supreme Court are involved in dilatory tactics which will impede his reinstatement in office on Thursday “as had been understood”. But according to the US State Department there is no specific timetable for Congress or the Supreme Court or the Attorney’s Office to address the issue of Mr. Zelaya’s reinstatement.

Zelaya’s Foreign Affairs minister Patricia Rodas warned on Wednesday that the agreement falls through if Zelaya is not reinstated to office on Thursday.

“We are living crucial moments: we are waiting for Congress to reinstate president Zelaya on Thursday as agreed on point 5. If not we reject the agreement and there will be no recognition of the electoral process”, insisted Ms Rodas.

Point 5 states that the Honduran congress must decide on returning the Executive to the situation previous to June 28th, (when the coup), until the finalization of the mandate on January 27, 2010. On June 28th Zelaya was ousted by the military and flown to neighbouring Costa Rica in what was described as the “pyjama coup”.

Zelaya’ office revealed he had sent a letter to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking her if the US position had changed since last Friday, when the agreement was reached given the dilatory tactics to prevent his reinstatement.

“The US government must tell the Honduran people if its position has changed or has been modified regarding the condemnation of the coup in Honduras”, wrote Zelaya.

According to the Tegucigalpa-San Jose agreement reached last week on Thursday November 5 a national unity and reconciliation government must be confirmed and instated thus opening the way to legitimize the November 29th election when the next president will be elected for the 2010/2014 period.