By RIA Novosti,
Mexico : Presidential elections will be held in Honduras on November 29, even if they are not internationally recognized, the country’s interim leader told a delegation from the Organization of American States.
“No matter what, presidential elections in Honduras will be held on November 29,” Roberto Micheletti said. “It does not matter if they are recognized by the international community or not.”
The delegation, comprising the foreign ministers of Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and Jamaica, led by OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, arrived in the Central American country on Monday to seek a solution to the current political crisis.
Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno said the mission had failed to persuade Micheletti to accept a 12-point plan devised by Costan Rican President Oscar Arias. Under the plan, ousted Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya would return to his post, while Micheletti would return to his pre-coup post of parliamentary speaker.
The Honduran military arrested Zelaya on June 28, the day polls were due to open for a nonbinding referendum on extending the non-renewable, four-year presidential term of office, and flew him to Costa Rica.
The plan, known as the San Jose Accord, also offers a full amnesty for those who ousted the president, and suggests holding presidential elections in the country one month earlier than scheduled.
The interim leader also said that his country could survive a possible economic embargo.
“We are sure that the country can get by without your support,” he said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has temporarily stopped issuing visas for Honduran citizens “as a consequence of the de facto regime’s reluctance to sign the San Jose Accord,” the State Department said on its website.
“We are suspending non-emergency, non-immigrant visa services in the consular section of our embassy in Honduras, effective August 26,” U.S. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said in a statement.