(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on a letter she sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressing reports that the U.S. is considering further aid cut-offs to Honduran democratic institutions and requesting an explanation of how such actions advance U.S. interests.  Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“It is difficult to understand how U.S. interests are served by the strong-arm tactics the U.S. is employing to force Manuel Zelaya’s return to the Honduran presidency in violation of the Honduran constitution and rule of law.

“Now is not the time to cut further assistance like the Millennium Challenge Corporation programs to our democratic allies in Honduras.

“By suspending counternarcotics operations and cutting off other assistance to Honduran democratic institutions, we have already opened the door for narcotraffickers to get one step closer to the American people and to further undermine the stability of our democratic allies in the region.

“I urge the State Department to take a step back and consider the long term impact of our current policy approach to the Honduran political situation.”

Note: In a letter dated July 9, 2009, Ros-Lehtinen urged the Secretary of State to restore any suspended U.S. assistance to Honduran democratic institutions and to consider U.S. interests and the Honduran constitution and rule of law before making any legal determinations resulting in further aid cut-offs.

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