July 7, 2009
Posted: July 7th, 2009 11:32 AM ET
Ousted Honduran President Zelaya will meet with the Secretary of State.
Ousted Honduran President Zelaya will meet with the Secretary of State.

(CNN) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet Tuesday with deposed Honduran President Jose Manuel Zelaya, according to the State Department.

In an interview with CNN en EspaƱol Monday night, Zelaya said he will once again try to return to his homeland after a series of meetings this week in Washington.

Zelaya failed in a attempt to return Sunday after the government of provisional President Roberto Micheletti prohibited his plane from landing.

Zelaya was expected to arrive in Washington on Tuesday for meetings with U.S. and foreign officials, including Clinton, a senior U.S. official said.

"We're very focused on the need for a dialogue to restore him and to restore the democratic order," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.

Zelaya was ousted June 28, the day that he planned to follow through with a referendum that the courts and the Honduran Congress had ruled illegal and that the military said it would not support. Lawmakers voted to strip Zelaya of his powers and named Micheletti as president.

The United Nations, Organization of American States and United States have condemned the coup, yet international pressure to date has not proved enough for Zelaya to return to power.

Full story

Related: Despite setback, ousted Honduran president wants to return

Updated: 11:32 a.m.

Filed under: Hillary Clinton


Jasmine in Germany   July 7th, 2009 2:57 pm ET

I wish some folks would hold their horses regarding angry comments; there's always more to the story.

RS   July 7th, 2009 2:41 pm ET

Gutless Wonder = Barack Obama

Dave in Illinois   July 7th, 2009 2:39 pm ET

Maybe Obama figures he'll get another book like he got from Chavez to add to his Presidential library.

makesUwonder   July 7th, 2009 2:10 pm ET

Why doesn't Obama just come out and admit it. Ilks such as Zelaya and Chavez are Obama's role models.

George   July 7th, 2009 1:58 pm ET

Stop all trade with Honduras now. Do the right thing for a change!

Tim   July 7th, 2009 1:48 pm ET

Deposed Honduran dictator. He tried to change the rules of the game in the middle of the game and everyone else told him no. Too bad we feel the need to meet with this Chavez wannabe. But it's no surprise, we'll meet with anyone, anytime.

Matt   July 7th, 2009 1:43 pm ET

Maybe if Obama understood Hondouras Constitution he would see they have a clause that states when the President attempts to extend their time in office they are removed from power immediately. The coup was ordered by their court system.

Obama should remember this because we will do the same to him if he tries to extend his term as well.

Lost in Texas FOREVER   July 7th, 2009 1:28 pm ET

didn't not long ago have a post here that SOS Clinton was being pushed into the background by the Obama administration and that alone bought the PUMAs out bearing their fangs again. Well looks like now she has some work to do and I guess those same PUMA's can now claim Pres Obama is ordering her to work with a gimp elbow.

Michigan Jim   July 7th, 2009 1:27 pm ET

One leftist meets another.

There was no "coup." Zelaya repeatedly defied the Honduran Supreme Court and its Congress, and fired the head of the military when he said "no" to distributing Zelaya's illegal ballots (printed in Venezuela, by the way).

If this was a coup, why is the new president (a) the next in the line of succession, anyway; and (b) a member of Zelaya's party?

Mike   July 7th, 2009 1:24 pm ET

we should have nothing to do with this guy. He tried to violate the Honduran Constitution and the elected Honduran Legislature and Courts ousted him.
This is the same thing that should have been done by our Legislature and Courts when Bush violated our constitution and laws for years – but of course our Legislature and Courts don't care about the Constitution.

ArtNYC   July 7th, 2009 1:23 pm ET

This is how radically America has changed, we are now supporting those thiefs and oppresers that try to become dictators. I thought we standed for freedom of expression and democracy, but this doesn't sound like any of that.

The Unshrub   July 7th, 2009 1:23 pm ET

We should not be supporting that bum. He is trying to overthrow their constitution and the majority of Hondurans do not want him back. We should not be interferring.

inat   July 7th, 2009 1:14 pm ET

our state department actually supports a leader who went against his country's constitution – a leader who was indicted by the Honduran supreme court – a leader who vowed to grasp and retain power against the will of the people? unbelievable.

Phil   July 7th, 2009 12:54 pm ET

We, I'm sorry, our government are the ones who are spitting on democracy by condemning this coup. Our president is spineless and his agenda is starting to make me fear what is coming. Our president should be applauding Honduras for keeping democracy in tact!

ME AT FL   July 7th, 2009 12:47 pm ET

Anyone that tries to change the Constituttion lying and deceiving the country should be treated the same way as Zelaya. Zelaya;s ties with Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro is more than enough to kick him out of the country. The Hondurasn people do not want him, this guy was elected by the people and changed through out his mandate to a communist line which Honduran people do not want. He was legally deposed as President because he violated the Constitution of Honduras, besides robbing the Honduran people, goverment and dealing with drug trafficking. Honduras does not want to become a Cuba, Nicaragua or Venezuela. Let's respect their rights!!!!

The Obama administration should tell Zelaya to calm down and to go to live in Cuba or Venezuela that is wehre he belongs!!!!

Phil   July 7th, 2009 12:47 pm ET

Ok, I am still not understanding why our president is supporting the socialist who was removed through a non-violent coup staged by the Honduran Supreme Court and Military. This man was in league with Chavez and was trying to change the constitution of Honduras so he could run again and again. The DEA even has a file on him because he is facilitating drugs that come from Venezuela that end up in the U.S. Again, why is our president outraged at the lack of democracy. Honduras has done something Venezuela, Cuba, etc. should have already done...get rid of their crooked and tyrannical president. Maybe Obama is scared something like this could happen to him if he continues down his ever widening socialistic path. I applaud the Hondurans for standing up to this tyrant!

Glennis   July 7th, 2009 12:42 pm ET

Do you suppose she really has her heart in it? Or is she just following orders?

LB   July 7th, 2009 12:41 pm ET

Please stop comparing Zelaya to Bloomberg. Im sure if Bloomberg got turned down by the congress and supreme court for a third term he would not try to create a "constitutional assembly". This would be a group that would allow the president to bypass congress and directly ammend the constitution (pending the approval of the presidentially appointed constitutional assembly). It is illegal, an obvious power grab, and a blatant violation of the Honduran constitution which appears to have various safeguards to keep the presidents power in check.

JonDie   July 7th, 2009 12:36 pm ET

We need an immediate cut-off of aid to Honduras and the withdrawal of our troops. Anything less is an enforcement of a coup d'etat.

Fair is Fair   July 7th, 2009 12:25 pm ET

The one-armed bandit meets the bandit.

dave   July 7th, 2009 12:24 pm ET

Sniffit- he decided to continue to support the patriot act. biggest abuse of the constitution.

dave   July 7th, 2009 12:20 pm ET

Yep, gotta keep that drug trade going!

Sniffit   July 7th, 2009 12:09 pm ET

@ phoenix86, who said "Zelaya was trying a Venezuelan type coup against the people of Honduras."

Moron...Chavez was voted into office democratically. Moreover, when he tried to remove term limits, he did so by referendum, which the people voted down and he accepted...unlike our own Bloomberg, who is insanely popular in NY. Furthermore, the consistent farsical yackity shmackity lie from you guys about being concerned over dictatorial regimes in other countries is purely laughable after Bush basically got under Musharef's desk. Zip it.

Sniffit   July 7th, 2009 12:05 pm ET

@ J.P., who said "Maybe Zeleya is a "constitutional scholar" who disregards his nation's constitution, too."

HAHAHA!!! Give an example of Obama disregarding the Constitution. Please...I am begging you. Other than continuing the Bush admin's argument regarding "executive privilege" in that one case in early Feb, you can't give an example because it doesn't exist. Nothing has come of all the fear mongering about gun rights. The appointment of so-called "czars" is Constitutional...yes it is...it's occured for far too long to be changed or ruled otherwise. Putting aside that the concept is inapplicable, nothing in the Constitution prevents "soshulizm." Legislative measures like the stimulus package are 100% constitutional. What've you got other than the hypocrisy inherent in you even bringing up the accusation after all that Bush and Cheney did?

So, once again, we have a GOPer projecting his/her own desires on the rest of us as a means of hidig their own loathing of the Constitution...unless you'd like to join us in recognizing equal rights for same-sex couples, supporting Constitutional precedent with respect to abortion rights, admitting that we're not a "krischun nashun" but a secular one, and realizing that state referendums or constitutional amendments do not allow voters to overturn the applicability of the federal Constitution in their state (it would take an amendment to the federal Constitution...have fun getting that to happen).

I laugh at comrade Limbaugh daily   July 7th, 2009 12:05 pm ET

Thanks for doing a great job Hillary,you have the rightwing jihadist republican party crying their eyes out everyday,and I love it.

rob   July 7th, 2009 12:03 pm ET

"Zelaya was ousted June 28, the day that he planned to follow through with a referendum that the courts and the Honduran Congress had ruled illegal and that the military said it would not support."

The Courts and the Honduran Congress had ruled illegal. HMMMMM so Clinton will meet with Him, for what purpose, to "restore the Democratic order"? to quote the spokesman.

Sounds to me that the Democratic people and the elected officials in Honduras are trying to stop anti "Democratic Order" like what happens in Venezuela.

What the hell is this Administration thinking?

situations like this remind just how fragile the whole world is   July 7th, 2009 12:01 pm ET

not just over seas but in our back yard (Mexico too)

Robin   July 7th, 2009 11:58 am ET

Keep an eye what is going on in South America. It can very well be a game plan for the United States.

Remember, Hitler was loved when he took power and we all know how that worked out for Germany.

Sniffit   July 7th, 2009 11:56 am ET

Funny how I get the strong scent of poo every time I go into a Ticker article about foreign relations...all those GOPers filling their pants out of fear is overwhelming....

Ryan Indy   July 7th, 2009 11:53 am ET

Why wouldnt she, both are Socialist.

jaye   July 7th, 2009 11:51 am ET

Thank you Hillary – we appreciate everything you do.

ch   July 7th, 2009 11:44 am ET

Hillary Clinton is the anti Sarah Palin – smart, strong, confident, steady. A fighter, not a quitter!

rachel   July 7th, 2009 11:40 am ET

CNN POST good, Hillary was the only one who basicaly said that Zelaya wasn't totally in the right. . The guy may have wanted to run for another term which is prohibted, but let him finish out the term his is in. If people in the us are okay with a military coup taking people out of power, then we need a military coup for the mayor of NY didnt he want another term?

Bruce   July 7th, 2009 11:38 am ET

The man violated his own Constitution and the governement stripped him of his powers. I see no coup here but rest assured, Obama and his cronies, especially Clinton, will be idiotic enough to agree with the likes of South American dictators and force their will on this small country. This country is going down so fast I am embarassed to be an American. The left-wingnuts will without a doubt destory this country.

Torch   July 7th, 2009 11:36 am ET

Just like Obama, Clinton can't tell the bad guys from the good.

the DEMS continue to amaze

yuri   July 7th, 2009 11:36 am ET

Theses goodwill talks between Clinton and Zelaya is onething, and his inability to return as prez. back to Honduras is another. Coup, thy name is Latin America!

Jimmy the Greek   July 7th, 2009 11:29 am ET

Glad to see the ousted leftist Chavez-wanna-be is meeting with our Chavez-wanna-be administration.

We wouldn't want to send the message to the Honduras people that actually sticking up for your Constitution is a GOOD thing! No, let's condemn the Honduras Supreme Court, the military obeying orders, and the current leader calling for early elections.

Bad Bad Honduras!

I give up   July 7th, 2009 11:25 am ET

clinton wanted a 3rd term, maybe he can give zelaya a way to bend the rules. this guy is a socialist thug who wants to illegally seize power. barry don't you get it?

Pat F   July 7th, 2009 11:25 am ET

Wow – Hugo Chavez must so happy. Barry is backing the Socialist in his attempt to disable the Honduran democracy. What a surprise.

Adam in KC   July 7th, 2009 11:24 am ET

Wow. The Democrats are really on the wrong side of this one. Is anyone surprised?

Tom Paine   July 7th, 2009 11:05 am ET

Obama didn't want to "meddle" in the Iranian elections – but he doesn't seem to have a problem meddling with Honduras. Zaleya is a Chavez clone – I guess that's all it takes for this administration to get cozy. One more thug to buddy up with.

RealityKing   July 7th, 2009 10:53 am ET

President Jose Manuel Zelaya is being rewarded by our Reset foreign policy for trying to subvert the Honduran constitution. While Iran, North Korea, Burma and Russia get passes on their totalitarian rule.

Mindless progressive foreign policy change dictators can believe in..

Pablo   July 7th, 2009 10:52 am ET

The guy wanted to suspend the constitution. Why wouldn't you oust him?

Bob in Pa   July 7th, 2009 10:52 am ET

Unbelievable! The court system and legislature in Honduras settled this already. The only reason to talk to him would be if the Honduran's wanted him returned to be prosecuted.

Howard   July 7th, 2009 10:52 am ET

Why aren't Clinton and Obama backing the new government which supports democracy???

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 7th, 2009 10:42 am ET

I don't know how exactly we're going to get the ousted leader back in power. The military won't even let the guy land at the airport.

Guy Next Door   July 7th, 2009 10:37 am ET

Oh yeah, shake hands and hug the Communist that wants to change the Hondoran Constitution so he can be President for life. Boy this sounds familiar.

phoenix86   July 7th, 2009 10:34 am ET

Unbelievable the stupidity of the Obama administration. Zelaya was trying a Venezuelan type coup against the people of Honduras.

The US government now finds itself supporting Hugo Chavez, Ivo Morales, and other far left would-be dictators. Obama believes in mob-rule, not democracy.

This plays into the far left fringe of Chaves and Co.

It doesn't support any type of democracy.

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