Deal Reached in Honduras to Restore Ousted President

New York Times ^ | October 30, 2009 | ELISABETH MALKIN

[ETL]

MEXICO CITY — A lingering political crisis in Honduras seemed to be nearing an end on Friday after the de facto government agreed to a deal that would allow Manuel Zelaya, the deposed president, to return to office.

The government of Roberto Micheletti, which had refused to let Mr. Zelaya return, signed an agreement with Mr. Zelaya’s negotiators late Thursday that would pave the way for the Honduran Congress to restore the ousted president and allow him to serve out the remaining three months of his term.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton confirmed on Friday that Mr. Zelaya and Mr. Micheletti had approved what she called “an historic agreement.”

“I cannot think of another example of a country in Latin America that, having suffered a rupture of its democratic and constitutional order, overcame such a crisis through negotiation and dialogue,” Mrs. Clinton said Friday in Islamabad, where she has been meeting with Pakistani officials.

The accord came after a team of senior American diplomats flew from Washington to the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, on Wednesday to press for an agreement. On Thursday, the assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, Thomas A. Shannon Jr., warned that time was running out for an agreement.

Mr. Micheletti’s government had argued that a presidential election scheduled for Nov. 29 would put an end to the crisis. But the United States, the Organization of American States and the United Nations suggested they would not recognize the results of the elections without a pre-existing agreement.

[Mr. Jazzy]

NY Slimes articles are suspect and not to be believed.

[EternalVigilance]

This should be the headline:

Communist coup: Obama overthrows constitutional government of Honduras

[Just A Nobody]

Why the hell is the USA involving itself in another country’s elections and business?

[mongrel]

This may be a smart move by Micheletti. There are significant limitations placed on Zelaya’s return, enough that he will just be a figure head. The election is only a month away.

I am sure Zelaya will try some dirty tricks, but hopefully the government is ready for it.

The other interesting thing about the agreement is that it allows Zelaya’s return only after a vote by congress and the supreme court. What happens if they vote no?

[ETL]

They are looking out for their Latin American comrades. They want the dominoes to fall as much as they do.

[ClaudiusI]

This is how liberty dies...

[ETL]

More here. Posted hours earlier. The article is in Spanish, but is translated at FR link below:

Concludes political crisis in Honduras (Deal courtesy of the State dept.)
Diario El Heraldo ^ | 29.10.09 | redaccion@elheraldo.hn

Posted on Friday, October 30, 2009 3:00:10 AM ET by HonCitizen

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2374328/posts

[NotSoModerate]

TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS .
The agreement we are about to sign tonight representatives of the government of deposed Roberto Micheletti Manuel Zelaya Rosales, requires that restitution be considered by Congress, after consulting the Supreme Court.

The agreement ask the international community to unlock the country. Here are the points that establishes the agreement if it is signed:

(1) The creation of a government of reconciliation;

(2) Reject the political amnesty despite Roberto RoMicheletti delegation was prepared to extend it;

(3) Recognition of the presidential elections on 29 November;

(4) The transfer of authority over the armed forces to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal;

(5) The establishment of a Verification Commission to enforce the points of agreement;

(6) The formation of a Truth Commission to investigate the events before, during and after June 28 that stripped of
his powers as president to Mr. Zelaya, and

(7) Request the international community to lift all sanctions against Honduras and send observers to the elections
presidential.

8) And finally, on the issue of the possible return of Mr. Zelaya that’s what Congress decides, with a prior opinion of the Supreme Court, to roll back all our nation’s executive branch prior to June 28 2009.

[Mister Da]

If Zelaya is allowed to reclaim his presidency, it will give his supporters - foreign & domestic - a big morale boost. Zelaya will also have a much greater influence on the elections next month. And unless the Honduran presidency is completely w/o power, I would expect Zelaya to use every power he has to cause chaos during his remaining tenure. I do believe the exile of Zelaya was a mistake. He should have been arrested, & impeached. But that mistake does not justify his return to power.

[Dr. Sivana]

The other interesting thing about the agreement is that it allows Zelaya’s return only after a vote by congress and the supreme court. What happens if they vote no?

Maybe they thought this out. Voting no would be a mistake. Instead, taking a week to write up the resolution. Send it to committee, spend another week fine-tuning the language. Get flak from U.S. for taking too long. Respond with cheeky comment about getting health care reform by August.

Vote bill out of committee, just in time for the election campaign to be in full-gear. Stick in bill provision that Zelaya has to wear a sash and a tiara. A bonus if he'll don formal evening wear and play "Moon River" (or some Honduran equivalent) for the people on television. More flak from the WHite House. Respond with cheeky comment about the U.S. not being all that special, and that counsel is being taken from Taiwan.

Another week of contentious debate. A short filibuster, and a vote on the eve of the election. Zelaya is brought back in with his sash and tiara.

[Reaganesque]

I like the way you think! lol!

[Ann Archy]

OMG!! I hate Bammy moe every day.

[ETL]

More from the AP...

Honduras Rivals Reach Zelaya Deal:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125688491140918183.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories

[dfwgator]

Never trust a Communist.

[texmexis best]

I think we are going to find out that Mr. Mitcheleti’s political skills are quite adequate to this task.

I see the strong possibility that Mel never sees the Presidential office before the vote.

[Just A Nobody]

Oh, I hear you! The question remains; What right does the United States have to dictate to the government of Honduras?

And why are there no cries of outrage from both here and Honduras?

So much for the Honduran citizens and what they want!

[HamiltonJay]

This is such crap! This guy was legally removed from power for trying to become a dictator, and the world including the US is siding with him?

Bloodshed is the only option left to save the world from tyranny.

[ETL]

I wonder what role Johnny F(onda) Kerry played in this?

"Shortly after taking office in 1985, Kerry and Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa went on a fact-finding trip to Nicaragua, where they met with Daniel Ortega (right) and other Sandinistas. The trip was criticized when the Sandinistas cemented ties with Moscow."
http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/062003.shtml

[ETL]

Russia's Medvedev hails "comrade" Obama

Associated Foreign Press (AFP) ^ | April 2, 2009 | Anna Smolchenko

"Russia's Dmitry Medvedev hailed Barack Obama as "my new comrade" Thursday after their first face-to-face talks"

http://www.france24.com/en/20090402-russias-medvedev-hails-comrade-obama

April 1, 2009:
"Obama, Medvedev pledge new era of relations":
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090401/wl_afp/usrussiadiplomacynuclear_20090401152002
_____________________________________________________

President Obama and Venezuela dictator Hugo
Chavez at the 2009 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad

Obama, Chavez shake hands at Americas Summit:
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D97KK2T00&show_article=1