WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Organization of American States said yesterday it would keep pressure on coup leaders that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya last month, while supporting dialogue to end the crisis.
Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza said the OAS would continue to apply “strong sanctions” on the interim government led by Roberto Micheletti and support mediation brokered by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias.
Fresh talks are set for Saturday.
“It is important to keep calm,” Insulza told a meeting of the OAS permanent council in Washington, adding the regional grouping did not “have to do much more … than keep applying pressure and so allow the process to bear fruit.”
Zelaya was ousted by the military on June 28 and Micheletti installed by the Honduran Congress, presenting Central America with its worst political crisis since the Cold War era.
The coup and impasse in the impoverished exporter of bananas, coffee and textiles has also complicated the foreign policy of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has sought to improve ties with Latin America.
The OAS, a hemispheric pro-democracy body with limited actual powers, gave an ultimatum for the reinstatement of Zelaya and suspended Honduras from membership on July 4 after the interim government refused to restore him.
Zelaya, who says the coup is a power grab by rich political elites who oppose him, gave his own blunt ultimatum this week, saying Saturday’s talks in Costa Rica were the last chance for the interim government to return power to him immediately.
