BELIZE CONDEMNS THE REMOVAL OF HONDURAS' PRESIDENT ZELAYA

UNCLAS BELMOPAN 000258 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN (JENNIFER VANTRUMP) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL KDEM HO BH SUBJECT: BELIZE CONDEMNS THE REMOVAL OF HONDURAS' PRESIDENT ZELAYA ¶1. The GoB on 29 June 2009 issued a press release condemning the actions of the military in Honduras, which led to the forceful removal of Honduras' President Jose Manuel Zelaya. In so doing, the Government of Belize also refused to accept the installation of Roberto Micheletti by the Congress as the new president. ¶2. Belize joined 15 Latin American and Caribbean countries represented by SICA, the Rio Group, and ALBA on 29 June 2009 in Nicaragua to similarly reject installation of Roberto Micheletti as president. Belize, as a Member of the Central American Integration System (SICA),was represented by Alfredo Martinez, Ambassador of Belize to Guatemala. At this meeting, SICA countries agreed to suspend political, commercial, and diplomatic relations with the current regime in Honduras. They also mandated that the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) suspend its loans and loan disbursements to the Micheletti government. ¶3. Belize's FM Wilfred Elrington is currently participating in a special emergency session of the Organization of American States in Washington D.C. DIFFILY