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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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