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09 March 2010

Clinton Urges Normalization of Relations with Honduras

 

Secretary Clinton held meetings March 5 with Central American leaders in Guatemala.

Secretary Clinton held meetings March 5 with Central American leaders in Guatemala.

By Merle David Kellerhals Jr.
Staff Writer

Washington — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says Honduras has taken the necessary steps toward restoring democracy and deserves recognition and normalization of relations.

“We believe that President [Porfirio] Lobo and his administration have taken the steps necessary to restore democracy,” Clinton said at a March 4 press conference. “We share the condemnation of the coup that occurred, but we think it’s time to move forward and ensure that such disruptions of democracy do not and cannot happen in the future.”

Clinton wrapped up a five-day visit to Central and South America in Guatemala with leaders and senior officials from eight Central American nations. The discussions turned to controlling the violence from drug trafficking and recognition of the new Honduran government. Clinton acknowledged the problems related to drug trafficking and called on Latin American nations to continue the fight against trafficking and the corruption associated with the illegal drug trade.

Honduras held a presidential election in November 2009 and elected Lobo. A coup had toppled former President Manuel Zelaya in June, when army officers seized him and flew him to nearby Costa Rica. Clinton said the election was free, fair and legitimate according to observers, and since then Lobo has worked steadily to restore democracy and the rule of law.

Following Lobo’s swearing-in ceremony January 27, the new president immediately signed a decree granting political amnesty to those who were involved in the country’s political crisis and also made it possible for Zelaya, who had returned to Honduras and whose term in office officially ended January 27, to leave the country safely for exile in the Dominican Republic.

“The Honduran family begins [the process] of reconciliation,” Lobo said in a speech at the national stadium in the capital, Tegucigalpa.

Clinton said Lobo has established a unity government and a truth commission to fully investigate the political crisis. She announced that the United States would resume more than $30 million in aid to the country.

“I have just sent a letter to the Congress of the United States notifying them that we will be restoring aid to Honduras,” Clinton told reporters. Some nations in the region have said they will wait, but Clinton said there is no reason to wait further.

During Clinton’s travel in Latin America, she consulted with leaders in Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Costa Rica before concluding her trip March 5 in Guatemala.