Honduran FM to lobby for OAS reentry in Washington

A Honduran delegation led by Foreign Minister Mario Canahuati left for Washington on Monday, in a bid to lobby members of the the Organization of American States (OAS) to support its reentry into the regional bloc.

"We are going to do the necessary approach with all the needed dignity and opening" for Honduras's return to the OAS, said Planning Minister Arturo Corrales, who is with the delegation.

Honduras' readmission to the OAS will be discussed on Wednesday at an OAS extraordinary assembly in Washington DC.

Honduras was expelled from the OAS on July, 2009, after then Honduran president Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup. While Zelaya was living in exile, a new government led by Porfirio Lobo emerged from a post-coup election, but has not been recognized by the international community.

Zelaya's return was secured after he signed an agreement with Lobo on May 22, as a pre-condition for Honduras to be readmitted to the OAS.

Previous to Zelaya's return to Honduras on Saturday, OAS General Secretary Jose Miguel Insulza met with Lobo and said that he hoped Honduras could return to the OAS on Wednesday.

However, some OAS members such as Ecuador said they won't support Honduras' reentry into the regional bloc until those responsible for the coup are punished.

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