State Department daily press briefing - October 23, 2009

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2009/oct/130895.htm ^ | October 23, 2009 | Ian Kelly

[don-o]

QUESTION: Thank you. On Honduras, again?

MR. KELLY: Uh-huh.

QUESTION: Dialogue is again broken. I know the U.S. supports an electoral solution for that, but positions seems to be divided because the rest of the countries – I mean, the rest of the international community is not really very clear if they are going to recognize the results of this election. So where do we stand?

MR. KELLY: Yeah. Well, I’m glad you asked. It is – I don’t know if I would characterize the situation as the talks have broken off, because the latest we heard this morning is that the de facto regime was going to present another proposal this morning to try and address this most contentious issue, which is the return of the democratically elected leaders – first and foremost, of course, President Zelaya to office. And – certainly we are disappointed that the two sides have not been able to reach a solution. But I wouldn’t say that the talks have broken off. There is this proposal that has to be discussed and –

QUESTION: Are you confident that the way out is going to (inaudible) to – for the crisis?

MR. KELLY: Well, I would just say that – again, I would use that word or words “sense of urgency.” I think that there is a real need for the two sides to reach an agreement, and then implement it expeditiously.

Go ahead.

QUESTION: Yeah.

MR. KELLY: You have a follow-up?

QUESTION: Yeah. Actually, the main problem seems to be elections and reelections in the region. And you fix yesterday your position regarding Nicaragua. Is it something that you are worried about it, not only Nicaragua, Venezuela, or other countries? And what is – what next?

MR. KELLY: Yeah. Well, I --

QUESTION: What can we expect?

MR. KELLY: One reason why I say there’s a sense of urgency is because the clock is ticking. I mean, you’ve got the elections the end of November. And we do want to reach a resolution of this problem between the de facto regime and President Zelaya, and reach a point where Honduras can address these concerns of the international community and have the legitimately elected leaders return to power, and then we can have elections that can enjoy legitimacy. And of course, in order to do that, we would like these elections to be carried out in an open and transparent way, and there needs to be certain mechanisms put in place in advance of these elections, and that’s why we need to do this now. The two sides need to seal this deal now. Time is running out.

QUESTION: Can – in just – I mean, you’re certainly right, I think their time is running out because you have now very, very few weeks --

MR. KELLY: Right.

QUESTION: -- until the elections. And it’s even questionable at this point, I think, now whether people like the Carter Center would regard an election – it’s less than five weeks right now --

MR. KELLY: Right.

QUESTION: -- so, as legitimate given the – so, here’s the question. I mean, when you – you all issued a statement during the course of the summer in which you said that you could not, at this time, regard elections held under the current circumstances as legitimate.

MR. KELLY: Yeah.

QUESTION: Is there any possibility that the Administration will bend or abandon that position? And if you don’t get a deal, just decide that, okay, we’re going to view the elections as legitimate. It’s a way for the people to express themselves despite the current situation.

MR. KELLY: Yeah. Well, you’re asking me to speculate on what we may or may not do. But what we’re focused on right now is reconciliation and restoration. And we believe that that’s the best way for the two sides to have a government that has international legitimacy, that reflects a process that is constitutional and open and transparent. So that’s what we’re focused on now. We haven’t given up on it. The OAS hasn’t given up on it. And we just hope that they move quickly on it.

QUESTION: But you would acknowledge in your language on that – sorry, last one for me – leaves open the possibility you can change your position at this time?

MR. KELLY: Like I say, we’re focused on these guys sitting down and agreeing.

QUESTION: Okay. Thank you.

MR. KELLY: Thanks.

(The briefing was concluded at 1:47 p.m.)

[don-o]

Different day. Same steaming pile.

[don-o]

Freepmail me to be added to / removed from Honduras ping list.
Please ping me to threads of interest.
Logo by kanawa

[TigersEye]

Thoroughly disgusting that our State Dept. is run by anti-American Marxists.

[don-o]

Word

[hinckley buzzard]

Same sh*t America has gotten from its State department for at least sixty years.

[Western Phil]

And we do want to reach a resolution of this problem between the de facto regime and President Zelaya, and reach a point where Honduras can address these concerns of the international community and have the legitimately elected leaders return to power, and then we can have elections that can enjoy legitimacy

Dear Mr. Kelley: I'm from Illinois and I am waiting for the de facto regime to relent and have our legitimately elected leader, Blagojevich, to be reinstated. When can you and the OAS get back to me on this?

[bukkdems]

“Dear Mr. Kelley: I’m from Illinois and I am waiting for the de facto regime to relent and have our legitimately elected leader, Blagojevich, to be reinstated. When can you and the OAS get back to me on this? “

Hilarious!! Perfect! Jim DeMint could find no other person in the country besides this guy who supports Zelaya.