Secretary-General encouraged by deal resolving political crisis in Honduras

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that he is encouraged by news that an agreement has been reached to resolve the political crisis in Honduras that began when President José Manuel Zelaya was ousted from power in June.

The deal between Mr. Zelaya – overthrown in a 28 June coup d’état which was condemned by Mr. Ban and other top United Nations officials – and the de facto authorities was reached last night in the capital, Tegucigalpa.

According to media reports, that deal would allow the deposed President to return to office.

The Secretary-General “hopes Honduras is now on the path to the full restoration of democratic, constitutional rule,” his spokesperson said in a statement.

Earlier this month, Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, dispatched a team to Honduras on a three-week mission to look into violations of rights in the wake of the June coup.