UNESCO chief welcomes removal of decree imposing press restrictions in Honduras

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today welcomed the decision by the de facto authorities in Honduras to lift an emergency decree imposing restrictions on freedom of expression in the wake of the surprised return of the ousted President.

Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), said today that he hoped the “wise decision” by the de facto government in the Central American country “will bear fruit for the benefit of all Hondurans.”

Last week Mr. Matsuura had voiced concern about the decree, which authorized the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend media outlets blamed for broadcasting messages that were hostile to the decisions of the authorities.

UN human rights officials have also spoken out in recent days about the suppression of civil liberties in Honduras in the months following the June ousting of President José Manuel Zelaya in a coup d’état.

Mr. Zelaya made a surprise return to Honduras on 21 September, and has sought shelter in the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa, the capital.

Mr. Matsuura said in his statement today that the fact that the restrictions on freedom of expression are being lifted “augurs well for the chance of a peaceful end to tensions in the country.

“Indeed, open and informed debate is an important condition fro democracy and good governance,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Oscar Fernandez-Taranco arrived today in Tegucigalpa as part of a high-level mission led by the Organization of American States (OAS) to try to promote dialogue and the restoration of democracy.