Washington/Tegucigalpa, Honduras - Organization of American
States Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza is set to travel Friday
to troubled Honduras to pursue further 'diplomatic initiatives aimed
at restoring democracy,' the OAS said in a statement.
During his stay in Tegucigalpa, Insulza will 'notify the Honduran
stakeholders' of the OAS' position on the crisis in the Central
American country. This will include a 72-hour ultimatum issued by the
OAS early Wednesday to demand reinstatement of democratically elected
Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, under threat of Honduras'
suspension from membership of the OAS.
The statement did not specify what 'stakeholders' would be
involved in talks with Insulza, who vowed Wednesday that his
negotiations for Zelaya's restoration would not include talks with
the post-coup government headed by former Congress speaker Roberto
Micheletti.
Earlier Thursday, Micheletti warned presidents Cristina Fernandez
de Kirchner of Argentina and Rafael Correa of Ecuador against
travelling to Honduras with Zelaya.
'I will hold Cristina Kirchner and Correa accountable for whatever
happens in the country,' Micheletti said in an interview published
Thursday in conservative Argentine daily La Nacion.
Ousted early Sunday, Zelaya confirmed Thursday at a press
conference in Panama City that he would return Saturday to Honduras.
Zelaya was arrested and exiled to Costa Rica in a coup ordered by
the country's Supreme Court, reportedly to stop him from attempting
to change the constitution and seek a second term.
Fernandez de Kirchner and Correa were planning to accompany Zelaya
back to Tegucigalpa after the OAS ultimatum expires Saturday.
Micheletti has said that Zelaya would be arrested if he returned
and warned that the ousted president's intention to come back to
Honduras with high-profile foreign escorts was 'a big mistake.'
'If violence breaks out in case Zelaya returns, I am going to be
worried about the presidents who may come over,' Micheletti said.
He expressed concern over the withdrawal of ambassadors from many
nations, including all members of the European Union, but noted that
Israel and Taiwan have already recognized his government and that
'international backing will grow.'
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