U.S. State Department Remarks on Recent Developments in Honduras

Arturo Valenzuela
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

Via Teleconference

Washington, DC

December 3, 2009

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ASSISTANT SECRETARY VALENZUELA: . . . [T]he Honduran congress voted yesterday not to reinstate President Manuel Zelaya to the Honduran presidency. We’re disappointed by this decision since the United States had hoped the Congress would have approved his return. And our policy since June 28 has been consistently principled, and we’ve condemned the coup d’état and have continued to accept President Zelaya as the democratically elected and legitimate leader of Honduras throughout this political crisis.

However, the decision taken by Congress, which it carried out in an open and transparent manner, was in accordance with its mandate in Article 5 of the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord. Both President Zelaya and Mr. Micheletti agreed to this accord on October 30. Important work remains to reestablish a democratic and constitutional order in Honduras and promote national reconciliation in the wake of the June 28 coup d’état, as the status quo remains unacceptable. Under the Tegucigalpa-San Jose Accord, the next steps in this process should be the expeditious formation of a national unity government and the establishment of a truth commission. It’s important that these steps be fulfilled to pave the way for Honduras’ return to the inter-American community of democracies. The Honduran people deserve no less and clearly signaled their desire to move forward with new leadership through their robust participation in Sunday’s elections.

The United States will continue to work with Honduran and international partners to help fulfill our overarching goal of supporting the restoration of democratic and constitutional order. We are encouraged by the strong call for national reconciliation made by President-elect Pepe Lobo, which also marks an important step in that direction.