De Facto Honduran President Changes Course, Calls for Envoy

Mariano Castillo
CNN
July 31, 2009

Honduran interim President Roberto Micheletti's hard-line stance against the return of ousted President Jose Manuel Zelaya has softened, he said, but the signing of a proposed agreement to end the country's political crisis remained uncertain.

In a statement released late Wednesday, Micheletti said an agreement presented by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias "is the best path toward the achievement of consensus in Honduras."

Micheletti's announcement was an apparent change of position, given that it was accompanied by a call to Arias to send a special envoy to Honduras to persuade political and business leaders to embrace the agreement, too.

In the month since Zelaya's ouster, members of Micheletti's government have repeatedly stated that Zelaya's return is an unacceptable condition.

Arias' proposal, known as the San Jose Accord, includes Zelaya's reinstatement as president, albeit with reduced powers.

"This is the time for all Hondurans to participate in the building of a consensus that respects our constitution and our laws," Micheletti said.

During two rounds of failed negotiations mediated by Arias, the Micheletti camp rejected an initial proposal because of the condition of Zelaya's return. Micheletti's negotiators left open the possibility after being presented the San Jose Accord, but that time the Zelaya camp walked out.

After the breakdown of talks, the de facto government said Zelaya's return was on the table, subject to the approval of the different bodies of government, including two Zelaya opponents -- the congress and supreme court.

Micheletti's new effort to persuade his backers to accept the accord is a new level of commitment for him.

The move is a classic case of negotiation being played out in public, said Christopher Sabatini, senior director of policy at the Americas Society and Council of the Americas.

To read the complete article, click here.




To speak with one of our experts on this topic, call 212-277-8384 or email communications@as-coa.org.

See more in:  Honduras, Rule of Law, Democracy & Elections