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July 8, 2009

Costa Rica to Broker Talks Between Ousted Honduran President and Coup Regime
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The ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya has agreed to a U.S.-backed
plan for talks with the coup regime that overthrew him last month. On
Tuesday, Zelaya met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in
Washington, D.C. It was Zelaya’s highest-level talks with the Obama
administration since the coup. Clinton said Costa Rican President Oscar
Arias will mediate talks between Zelaya and the interim coup president
Roberto Micheletti.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: “Instead of another confrontation
that might result in the loss of life. Lets try the dialogue process and
see where that leads, lets let the parties determine all the various
issues as they should. It’s their responsibility to do that.”

Zelaya and Micheletti are set to visit Costa Rica. Zelaya maintained his
return to the presidency is “non-negotiable.”

Honduran President Manuel Zelaya: “These decisions have been taken so
that in the next few hours, things can stabilize so that tranquility,
calm and peace will return to Honduras.”

Pro-Zelaya demonstrations continued in Honduras Tuesday despite the
threat of further police violence. Two unarmed protesters were killed
Sunday when police opened fire on a peaceful demonstration.