(No. 303 - October 9, 2009) The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), today made the following statement at the conclusion of the second high-level Organization of American States (OAS) delegation to Tegucigalpa from October 7 to 8, 2009, in support of a negotiated solution to Honduras’ political crisis:
“Canada is committed to working with the OAS and our neighbours to provide the necessary support for arriving at a peaceful, prompt and durable solution to this crisis for the benefit of the people of Honduras,” said Minister of State Kent. “We strongly believe that the key elements for a solution are within our reach. Time is of the essence. It is vital that a solution be found to ensure that the elections scheduled for November 29 can take place and are free, fair and transparent. We have made this very clear.
“Canada reiterates its call to all parties to negotiate in good faith. Finding a negotiated solution to this political crisis is of paramount importance to Honduras. This has to be a Honduran solution for it to succeed. We urge all parties to consider what is best for the country and for all Hondurans.”
Over the past two days, the OAS mission organized a national dialogue to overcome the current political crisis in Honduras. Canada has been committed to resolving this crisis from the very beginning. Minister of State Kent delivered remarks on behalf of the international delegation at the opening of the Honduran dialogue process. He played a leading role in the OAS foreign ministers’ mission.
The OAS mission has generated momentum toward national reconciliation by establishing a mechanism for dialogue between representatives of the de facto government of Roberto Micheletti and President Manuel Zelaya. The mission was composed of high-level representatives from the OAS, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica, Mexico, Spain, the United States and the United Nations. Following the departure of the foreign ministers’ mission, representatives of the OAS will continue to provide on-the-ground administrative and logistical support to the ongoing national dialogue process in Honduras.
For more information, please visit Situation in Honduras.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Eleanor Johnston
Senior Special Assistant (Communications)
Office of the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)
613-947-8981
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
