A Spanish priest, residing in Honduras, questions the stances the Government of Spain has taken against Honduras, which are causing so much damage in the country.
Antonio Rieu, who lived in Congo, Rwanda, Cameroon and Ivory Coast, now runs a Marist high school in Honduras. He sent a letter to the Spanish Ambassador in Honduras, from which we translate an excerpt:
While the people of Honduras continue to suffer from international isolation, the political and diplomatic corporation of Latin America and the Caribbean will discuss its fate in Cancún.
The Rio Group (an OAS alternative), will become the next stage in which the representatives of the region’s governments will promote their own political and personal projects, as they discuss the future of a theoretically sovereign country.
The European Commission informed in a press release that they plan to resume the negotiation process on February 22.
Honduras will participate fully and Panama will take part as an observer.
“EU wants a ‘comprehensive association agreement’ with the region, which includes political dialogue in Human Rights, climate change and development cooperation, plus a free trade agreement”, reported Nacion.com.
Up to date, Honduras has resumes diplomatic relations with Guatemala, Colombia, Peru and Canada.
Chancellor Mario Canahuati explained they are working with the United States to unfreeze economic aid.
Canahuati added: “We have also welcomed the ambassadors of Italy and Germany, and the delegates from Spain and France are on their way. We also made progress with Finland, Turkey and Morocco”.
Honduras starts a new stage of political and economic reconstruction, based on national reconciliation.
The new president started this difficult assignment by ratifying a resolution by the National Assembly granting immunity for all those involved in the deposition of Manuel Zelaya.
Lobo remarked he is assuming leadership of the country in the midst of its "toughest economic situation ever", with "giant and almost unmanageable foreign debt of $3.5 billion, in addition to very large domestic debt", a situation made even more difficult due to the lack of funds from international institutions since June 2009.
The Economist analyzes the upcoming administration of Porfirio Lobo and how he will have to 'pick up the post-coup pieces'.
When he is sworn in on January 27th, Lobo will take over a country that is diplomatically isolated, economically battered and socially polarized.
He inherits an economic hole. "Because of the world recession, the aid cut and the collapse in confidence triggered by the coup, the economy shrank by 3-4% last year.
The Congress of Honduras ratified the withdrawal of the country from the Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas (ALBA).
Interim president Roberto Micheletti had sent the executive decree on December 2009.
"Rafael Pineda, presidential minister, had explained that the withdrawal from ALBA doesn't imply suspending commercial relations with the countries which compose the block", reported Proceso.hn.
The coup d'état and the international financial crisis are the main drivers of this drastic reduction in foreign direct investment.
According to data from the Central Bank of Honduras, the country received $485 million in Foreign Direct Investment, 44.7% less than in 2008, when it received $877 million.
"Honduras attracted $251.7 million in foreign investment in the first half of 2009 and $233.3 in the second, when the political crisis started", reported Prensalibre.com.
Brazil won for maximum hypocrisy, United States for indecision, and the OAS for lack of impartiality.
Andres Oppenheimer lists some of the top external players in the Honduras crisis, detailing their biggest political mistakes.
The feeling remains, however, that had not been for the mistakes of the international community (specially for its stubbornness in not listening to objective reasons), the price being paid by the people of Honduras would not be so high.
Central America's chambers of commerce requested the European Union to recognize the elections in Honduras, in order to resume negotiations for an association agreement.
At a meeting in San José, Costa Rica, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Central American Isthmus (Fecamco), "unanimously endorsed Honduras' elections" and asked the European Union to recognize them.
Honduras president-elect started a national dialogue process to develop a 28-year country plan.
The plan will focus on Honduras' most problematic areas: education, health, security and investment.
Porfirio Lobo remarked: "We will review the government plans proposed by all candidates, in addition to all the documents produced in over 30 forums in which the candidates participated.
With 111 votes against and 14 in favor, Congress ruled out reinstating deposed president Manuel Zelaya.
The debate lasted over 9 hours, in which Congress members heard reports from the Supreme Court of Justice, the Public Ministry, the General Attorney and the Human Rights Commissioner.
"Congress rejected the fifth item of the Agreement signed by both Zelaya's and Micheletti's delegations on October 30th.
The Honduran Congress is discussing whether to reinstate deposed president Manuel Zelaya.
If approved, Zelaya would be put back in office until Porfirio Lobo, the new president elect, takes office.
"The Congress' plenary, composed of 128 representatives, must discuss the 5th point of the Tegucigalpa/San José agreement, signed by Zelaya and Micheletti's government, sponsored by the United States", reported Epa.
"Not recognizing the elections nor the future president would be hurting the Honduran people, who have already suffered enough, and don't deserve it", Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica.
At a press conference during the XIX Iberoamerican Summit of Heads of State, the president of Costa Rica remarked the "double standards" of the international community with regards to the Honduran political crisis.
Porfilio Lobo Sosa, Honduran elected president, announced he will start a large national dialogue.
He expects the dialogue to result in a national unity government that will integrate the populace.
Lobo said he will "... take the necessary steps for us to conduct a large dialogue with all the sectors, which will produce what all Hondurans hope for, an agreed plan for the country", reported Proceso Digital.