Honduras post-coup mediation moves to Washington

[Judi Lynn]

Honduras post-coup mediation moves to Washington
Published: Aug. 19, 2009 at 5:38 PM


International diplomatic moves to defuse the crisis in Honduras after a June 28 military coup that ousted President Jose Manuel Zelaya have moved to the U.S. capital as Obama administration officials seek clarifications from the de facto regime.

A Honduran delegation that arrived in Washington for talks with the Organization of American States has also been meeting with senior administration officials.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters the talks had taken place and included acting Assistant Secretary of State Craig Kelly. "But it in no way -- I'd like to emphasize -- this in no way is meant to imply any kind of acceptance of the de facto regime in Tegucigalpa," he said.

He said the talks were to prepare for a fact-finding visit to the Honduran capital by ministers from the OAS member states.

Latin American sources told United Press International the lobbyists for coup leader Gen. Roberto Micheletti were continuing with their charm offensive, which began soon after the military catapulted Zelaya into exile, with no fixed itinerary or base for his continuing bid to return to power.

The current visit to Washington follows several minor lobbying missions sent to the U.S. capital by Micheletti's interim government.

The sources said the lobbyists seemed encouraged by the administration's cautious approach toward the interim regime, indicated by visa cancellations for the coup elite but no punitive sanctions.

The focus of Honduran lobbying in Washington is on convincing the Obama administration the new regime can be a good thing for U.S. interests in South America.

Micheletti has already been sworn in by the Honduran Congress as president, and aides have ruled out a return to power for Zelaya, the centerpiece of a mediation effort by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. The United States has said in the past it backs the Arias initiative and will not recognize Micheletti's de facto regime.

However, the Arias initiative appears to have been derailed from an unexpected quarter. The 68-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner contracted the H1N1 swine flu and had to stay at home, continuing his rule via telephone and computer. Analysts now doubt if Arias can devote sufficient energy to try and break the Honduran impasse.

More:
http://www.upi.com/Emerging_Threats/2009/08/19/Honduras-post-coup-mediation-moves-to-Washington/UPI-79081250717893/

[Downwinder]

1. Closer to the scene of the crime? n/t

[EFerrari]

2. But that's not intervention, thank goodness!

[Downwinder]

3. The intervenrion has already occured, and that bunch of

cutthroats that are gathering makes the pirates of Port Royal look tame.

UPI put this under "Emerging Threats." Why? Threat to whom or what?