About time: Clinton Backs Return of Honduras to Full OAS Role

June 7, 2010 07:41


Although Clinton refuses to admit the Obama administration’s mistake in condemning Honduras’ legal ouster of Chavez supported Zelaya,  she at least says Honduras should be readmitted to the OAS.

David Gollust | Lima, Peru via VOANews.com

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in the Peruvian capital, Lima, to meet fellow foreign ministers of the Organization of American States, has reaffirmed American support for the reintegration of Honduras into the regional body. Honduras was expelled from the OAS a year ago, after the ouster of former president Manuel Zelaya.

Despite widely-accepted elections in Honduras last November that put incumbent President Ricardo Lobo in office, the issue of last year’s coup remains an issue of bitter controversy among OAS member states.

It is unclear whether the question of restoring Honduras to full membership in the regional grouping will come to a vote in the ministerial-level OAS General Assembly in Lima.

But Clinton is making clear that, in the American view, the conduct of the election and subsequent conciliatory steps by the government of President Lobo merit the return of Honduras to the OAS and other regional bodies.

“President Lobo has done everything he said he would do,” said Clinton. “He was elected through a free and fair, legitimate election. He provided political amnesty. He set up a truth commission. He has been very committed to pursuing a policy of reintegration.”

Several key Latin American countries, including Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela, have refused to acknowledge Mr. Lobo as the legitimate leader of Honduras because, among other things, the interim government that preceded him failed to reinstate Mr. Zelaya.

FULL STORY



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