Honduras/Costa Rica

Rival Presidents to meet but daggers still drawn

Article published on the 2009-07-09 Latest update 2009-07-09 10:15 TU

Soldiers block Zelaya's supporters from the airport on Sunday
(Photo: Reuters)

Deposed Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is to meet Thursday with the country’s interim leader to try and end to the political crisis in Honduras.

The two days of talks between Zelaya and Roberto Micheletti will be hosted by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias. Arias, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 for his efforts to end Central American conflicts, will need to mediate between sharply opposed positions.

“It seems to me that there is willingness on both sides to seek a negotiated settlement through diplomacy, through dialogue,” Arias said Wednesday.

But both Zelaya and Micheletti have made public statements to the contrary.

“We’re not going to negotiate, we’re going to talk,” Micheletti said Wednesday. Zelaya told Chilean television that the meeting would plan “the exit of the coup leaders” and described his political opponent as a “thug”.

The Honduras Supreme Court has suggested another possible way for Zelaya to return home. Jorge Rivera, head of the Supreme Court, said a congressionally granted amnesty could clear the way for Zelaya’s re-entry to Honduras.

Zelaya tried to fly back to Honduras on Sunday, but the interim government stopped his plane from landing.

On Wednesday Nicaragua banned Micheletti from using its airspace to travel to the talks. But Costa Rican officials said that the move will not stophim attending the talks.