Honduras: U.S. Officials Comment on Action Taken Against Honduran President Mel Zelaya

Here’s an update on the latest news about the Organization of American States and its relationship with Honduras. On July 5, State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly and three senior Administration officials gave a background briefing on the Organization of American States Decision on Honduras. I’ve included a brief excerpt from the transcript below. To view the full version of this transcript, visit http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/july/1256….

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release July 6, 2009
2009/687
BACKGROUND BRIEFING
Senior Administration Officials
On the Organization of American States Decision on Honduras
July 5, 2009
Via Teleconference

MR. KELLY: So let’s start. Thank you all for joining us today in this conference call. We have three Senior Administration Officials with us on the line to discuss recent develops in Honduras and at the Organization of American States. We’ll start with brief remarks from Senior Administration Official Number One, and then go to your questions. So, Senior Administration Official Number One.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL ONE: Great. Again, thank you all very much. And sorry that this is taking place on a Sunday, but appreciate your interest.
As you know, last night, the OAS General Assembly voted 33 to 0 to suspend Honduras from the Organization of American States following a week of very intense diplomatic activity in an effort to restore constitutional and democratic order following the coup in Honduras against President Mel Zelaya. In the aftermath of that decision, President Zelaya indicated a desire to return to Honduras. He has departed Dulles Airport en route to Honduras in a separate aircraft. He is being accompanied by the presidents of Argentina, Ecuador, and Paraguay and, we believe, the Secretary General of the Organization of American States.
The Honduran airport authorities and de facto regime have indicated that they will not allow the aircraft to land in Honduras. If that continues to be the case, the aircraft will divert to a neighboring country, we believe El Salvador. Currently, President Zelaya is scheduled to return to Washington to continue consultations in the event that he’s unable to enter Honduras.
Let me stop there.
MR. KELLY: Okay. We’ll, go to questions. Jim, do you want to moderate?
OPERATOR Certainly. And to ask your question, all you have to do is press *1 on your touchtone phone. You’ll be announced prior to your question. *1 for questions, please.
First, we have Ginger Thompson, your line is open.
QUESTION: Hi, you all, and thanks again for doing the call. I’m wondering if it’s still true that the United States has not spoken to or had any contact with members of the de facto government and how you intend to sort of broker a diplomatic end to this crisis if the OAS has prohibited itself from having contact with the people that you want to surrender power…

To view the full transcript of this briefing, please visit: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/july/1256…