MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur praises accord that opens way for Honduras return to OAS

Former president Manuel Zelaya can now return to his home country a free man

Mercosur described the reconciliation agreement reached by Honduras president Porfirio Lobo and his predecessor Manuel Zelaya, ousted in 2009, as a fundamental step in the process of normalizing relations in the hemisphere.

The announcement was made in advance of the Organization of American States, OAS, Extraordinary general assembly scheduled for June first when the return of expelled Honduras to the multilateral group will de discussed.

“The signing of the agreement is a fundamental step for the normalization of Honduras international relations”, said an official communiqué from Mercosur released by the Foreign Affairs ministry of Paraguay that currently holds the group’s chair.

Mercosur adheres with satisfaction to the signing last May 22 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, of the agreement between the government of Honduras and Zelaya which opens the way for the return of the former president to the country, added the release.

Further on the release congratulates the governments of Colombia and Venezuela for their support and mediation in opening the way for the signing of the accord which reiterates the commitment from the whole of Latin America with preservation and consolidation of democracy.

The text adds that following on the 1998 Ushuaia Protocol the full implementation of democratic institutions is an essential condition for the development of the integration schemes currently in process.

At the extraordinary meeting June first Foreign Affairs ministers of OAS country members will consider “lifting the suspension on Honduras right to participate in the OAS, according to what is established in the OAS charter and the Inter American Democratic Statement”.

Honduras was suspended from OAS 4 July 2009 following the June 28 coup which removed then president Zelaya from office and was flown to neighbouring Costa Rica by the military with support from the Legislative and Judicial branches.

Since then Zelaya was exposed to several charges if he returned to Honduras.

OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said there is no specific procedure for the readmission of a country member but once the Honduras representatives are ratified by their continental peers, “they will be able to immediately request their accreditations”.

Brokered by Colombia’s Juan Manuel Gomez and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez President, Lobo and Zelaya stamped their signatures on the “National reconciliation and consolidation of the democratic system in Honduras accord”.

According to the OAS charter an affirmative vote of two thirds of the 33 country members is needed for the approval of a re-admission.