Mood:  loud

 (EMAIL REPLY)

Thank you for contacting me about the ousting and exile of former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya.  I appreciate hearing from you and it is an honor to serve as your senator. 

As you probably know, last June, the Honduran military detained President Manuel Zelaya and flew him to exile in Costa Rica, ending 27 years of uninterrupted elected civilian democratic rule in Honduras. The move was backed by the Honduran Supreme Court and a majority of the National Congress, which selected Roberto Micheletti, the head of Congress, to fulfill the rest of Zelaya's term.

President Obama condemned these events and called for the return of President Zelaya. Since the coup, the United States government has been working alongside our regional allies in the Organization of American States (OAS) to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Furthermore, the United States military's Southern Command minimized its cooperation with the Honduran military and the State Department suspended approximately $18.4 million in foreign assistance to the Honduran government.

On October 30, 2009 Manuel Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti signed an agreement designed to end the Honduran political crisis, but it was not fully implemented.  Presidential elections were held as scheduled on November 29, 2009, and Porfirio Lobo emerged as the winner.  The United States has recognized the outcome of these elections, while simultaneously pushing for full restoration of democracy.  I am hopeful that the new president will take significant steps to restore democratic traditions in Honduras. 

Please be assured I will continue to monitor the political situation in Honduras and the performance of Porfirio Lobo after he is installed as President on January 27, 2010. 

Thank you again for taking the time to share your concerns with me.  Please feel free to keep me updated on the issues that matter most to you.

Jeff Merkley
United States Senate

Posted by Joe Anybody at 12:01 AM

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