WASHINGTON – Congressman Connie Mack (FL-14), the Ranking Republican of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, issued the following statement today after Honduran President Roberto Micheletti and former president Manuel Zelaya reached an agreement last night that would give the Honduran Congress the power, with the consultation of the Supreme Court, to decide on Zelaya’s future once again. In June, both the Honduran Congress and the Honduran Supreme Court voted overwhelmingly to have Zelaya removed for his unconstitutional and illegal actions. Today’s agreement calls for a reconciliation government to take over in the meantime.

Mack said:

“I spoke to President Micheletti this morning. I thanked him for his leadership and told him I was proud of how strong he and the Honduran people have been during this crisis. I also told President Micheletti that I expect the Honduran Supreme Court and the Honduran Congress will not allow Zelaya to return to power.

“While this is not a deal I would agree to, we should be proud of the people of Honduras, as well as President Micheletti, for standing strong in their fight to protect their freedom and democracy.

“The agreement does not provide amnesty. Therefore, once Zelaya comes out of hiding at the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, he should be immediately arrested to stand trial for his crimes against the Honduran people.

“This agreement is just the beginning. There remain a lot of unanswered questions and we remain cautious. The Honduran people need to stand strong and reject the failed policies of the thugocrats of the region – like Hugo Chavez, Daniel Ortega, and Rafael Correa – who, together with Manuel Zelaya, will stop at nothing to inject their Bolivarian Revolution throughout the entire hemisphere.

“With the upcoming presidential elections on November 29th, President Obama and Secretary Clinton should immediately issue a public statement supporting the election process in Honduras. Furthermore, they must take swift action now to restore aid as well as reinstate the revoked visas of Honduran officials. Finally, the Administration must recognize the results of the elections.

“In addition, the United States must remove Ambassador Hugo Llorens from his post so he cannot manipulate the upcoming vote. As I have said before, and in the request for a GAO investigation into the Ambassador’s conduct during this situation, the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa must remain neutral as the people of Honduras decide the future of their democracy next month.

“The Honduran people want to live in freedom, and they seek the same ideals that we have: freedom, security and prosperity. The United States must stand with the Honduran people as they work toward this goal.”

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