A Letter From the Office of the President of Honduras
Compatriots:
Yesterday we concluded, in Cartagena de Indias, the process that began on April 9th, with Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia and
President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.
I am pleased to inform all political forces and all those who advocated for the return of former President Zelaya, that we have signed agreements so he can return to his homeland, when he so considers.
I thank God, who has guided me along the way and has given me the
strength to make all the decisions which helped to consolidate the reconciliation process of the Honduran family.
Getting to where we are today has not been easy, party flags are respectable and necessary, but dwarfed the majesty of the flag of the country.
I want to extend a very special thanks to Colombia, Venezuela, and
their foreign ministers, whose mediation has facilitated the signing of this important agreement.
Also, the Central American countries, from Belize to Panama, the
Dominican Republic, Canada, Mexico, and the United States of
America, for their continued support and solidarity with the people and
Government of Honduras. Equally, I appreciate the interest expressed by all those Latin American and Caribbean countries.
My major motivation from the beginning of my mandate, has been serving my people, and the government has made an enormous effort to normalize relations with all countries in the hemisphere. In Nicaragua we restored relations within a framework of respect, and in support, the Central American countries ratified our full participation in the Central American Integration System, SICA.
Very soon, and with the support of most American countries, we hope to have Honduras incorporated into the OAS.
I want to make clear that the signed Agreement for National Reconciliation serves the best interests of the Nation and was undertaken with strict compliance with the laws and the Constitution of the Republic.
We have guaranteed the safe return of the ex president of Honduras
José Manuel Zelaya, as well as that of the former officials of his
administration, who enjoy all the rights and guarantees
under the Constitution as does every citizen of our country.
We reaffirm the commitment of my Government to the unconditional respect for Human Rights, which we will continue to realize through
strengthening public policy in this area, and through the Secretary of Justice and Human Rights.
It is important to recognize the commitment of the National Congress to Honduras, whereby through the recent amendments to Article 5 of
our Constitution, the people can be consulted without constraints, and participate directly in the decisions, political, social, and economic, through the constitutional figures of the plebiscite and the referendum.
I want to express to each and every Honduran male and Honduran female, that my greatest commitment is to you, my people.
We hope that the actions we have taken mark a new stage of social and political life in our country, and the groups who have been alienated can turn the page, and what commences, all together, to look toward the future, thinking only of solving problems that affect our people.
Seek together the welfare of our beloved nation. From the
first day, my government made a commitment to all Honduran men and Honduran women to fight for peace, reconciliation and national unity; today, with satisfaction, I can say to my people that we are fulfilling that word and continue along this path for the sake of Honduras.
Thank you very much.
