The government thereby commits to secure Zelaya’s return to the country and to respect human rights. In this way, Honduras would return to regional and multilateral agencies such as the Organization of American States (OAS).

On June 28, 2009, dictator Roberto Micheletti and the Armed Forces ousted Zelaya, who had to flee the country in January 2010, when Lobo took office after illegitimate elections. Since then, the Honduran De facto regime committed all kinds of human rights abuses. Lobo now commits to stop the terror.

Sunday’s agreement was also signed by the Colombian and Venezuelan presidents, Juan Manuel Santos and Hugo Chavez, respectively, in their capacity as witnesses. They facilitated the process that gave rise to this pact.

Santos and Chavez had met Lobo in Cartagena on April 9. At that time Zelaya joined them by phone. In the conversation they agreed the mediation of Colombia and Venezuela.

The agreement, which was made public, consists of nine items. Thereby, the Honduran government commits to act within the Constitution and the national laws and to “guarantee” former President Zelaya’s return to his country “with full recognition of his rights”, including the right to perform political activities under safe and free conditions.

Lobo’s regime also claims that it would “expand the guarantees granted for the safe and free return of Zelaya’s former officials and of other persons affected by the crisis who are now abroad, with full recognition of their rights under the Constitution and the laws”.

The agreement “welcomes the decision of the corresponding authorities to annul the court processes against Zelaya”. Item five claims they “will especially enforce the Constitution and guarantee the respect and protection of human rights . In fact, the creation of the Secretariat of Justice and Human Rights is hereby recognized, as a body that will strengthen the national capacity for human rights promotion and protection in Honduras”.

Meanwhile, the agreement claims it will provide all legal guarantees so that the National Front of Popular Resistance, which comprised the people who opposed the dictatorship, and of which Zelaya is the general coordinator, may register as a political party and participate in elections in Honduras. The document also provides the right to call a popular consultation on the installation of a National Constituent Assembly, as proposed by Zelaya.

The last item “creates the Follow-up Commission”, which comprises the Foreign Ministers of Colombia and Venezuela: María Ángela Holguín and Nicolás Maduro.

Adital news agency reports Zelaya highlighted the agreement recognizes the respect of human rights. “This is an important and historical step in the restitution of democratic rights for all the Hondurans”. Zelaya is expected to arrive in the Honduran capital, Tegucigalpa, on Saturday.

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