Zelaya says he's unwilling to negotiate

Published: July 9, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Hondurans rally against President Manuel Zelaya

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, July 9 (UPI) -- Ousted Honduran President Jose Zelaya says he is not open to negotiating with the current Honduran leadership.

Zelaya announced his unwillingness to negotiate with the man representing the military faction that ousted him through a coup ahead of Thursday's meeting in San Jose, Costa Rica, CNN reported.

"I want to clarify that our presence here does not represent any negotiation," Zelaya said Wednesday at the airport in San Jose where he traveled from the United States. "It's simply listening through a mediator … to the approach of those who have established this (de facto regime), those who kicked out their servant and brought him here by force at dawn on (June 28) to see how they are planning their departure."

Zelaya rejected the suggestion he may consider negotiating with Roberto Micheletti, the former congressional leader installed as provisional president, CNN said.

"It's as if you were to invite to your place a criminal who raped your family and wanted you to accept conditions for that violation," said Zelaya, whose term in office was to end in January. "Democracy is a popular right. It is a right of the society."

Nobel Peace Price winner Oscar Arias Sanchez, president of Costa Rica, was to host the meeting at his home.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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