October 6, 2009

Honduras has one president: Roberto Micheletti



El Heraldo video of part of the Ros-Lehtinen press conference (in Spanish)

A joint press conference was held with Honduran President Roberto Micheletti and US Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen yesterday.

A longer video is available at La Tribuna (right hand column, beneath the "Minuto a Minuto" column). Unfortunately, I don't know how to link directly to the video, so it may not be available at this link tomorrow.

She also gave a 2-3 minute summary in English for the international media, but I did not find where it was shown anywhere. If you happen to find it online, please let me know so that I can link to it.

The following is a translation of some quotes given in a La Prensa article about the press conference:

"I'm with the president of Honduras, Roberto Micheletti, because he is the president of this country. Some people say "de facto" government, but not under the Constitution of the Republic. I sit here with the president of this beautiful and proud country" said U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, to start the press conference at Government House.

Ros-Lehtinen said Manuel Zelaya has tried to convince international leaders that he is more important than the democratic aspirations of the people of Honduras," but this is much more than his personal interests. This is a person who has not complied with the Constitution and Article 239 which clearly says that he did not comply with the decision of the Supreme Court, which did not comply with the laws of Congress and with the desire of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal," the Republican said.

"This government, of Micheletti, is the legitimate government of Honduras and so when I return to Washington, I will ask my colleagues in the Congress and Senate to come to Honduras and don't only see the reports of CNN and other channels, but come here and meet with the people of Honduras and the legitimate government to listen to their desire to live in peace and democracy," she said.

She stressed that "the people of Honduras deserves to have legitimate elections, but where are the observers? It is necessary that they come."

Ros-Lehtinen said she agreed that the cuts from the United States to Honduras will have to be restored.

"They shouldn't cut more money or other funds nor put pressure on other countries not to cooperate with Honduras, for taking away aid to this country is threatening to our national security in the U.S." she said, referring to the case of narcotics traffickers.

La Prensa article [Google translation]
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