TEGUCIGALPA, (Reuters) – The de facto rulers of Honduras snubbed the head of the Organization of American States yesterday and cancelled a planned visit for talks on the crisis caused by a coup in June.
The OAS, which suspended Honduras over the coup, had planned to send secretary-general Jose Miguel Insulza with a group of foreign ministers tomorrow.
“The intransigence of the secretary general in insisting he be part of the mission … has made it impossible that the visit go ahead,” Honduras’ foreign ministry said in a statement.
During a visit to Honduras days after soldiers forced President Manuel Zelaya out of the country, Insulza called for the president to be reinstated and did not meet directly with de facto leader Roberto Micheletti.
Honduras’ de facto government said it was willing to reschedule the visit as long as it does not include Insulza, who it accused of “lacking objectivity, impartiality and professionalism.” The Washington-based OAS is the Western Hemisphere’s top diplomatic body and often mediates diplomatic and political crises in the region.
