| (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, will travel to Honduras next week to examine how current U.S. policy is undermining the democratic aspirations of the Honduran people and vital U.S. national security and commercial interests.
This official visit comes as former President Manuel Zelaya provocatively snuck back into the country nine days ago and as missions from the Organization of American States (OAS) are scheduled to arrive in the country.
Ros-Lehtinen will hear first-hand from members of the current Honduran government and public who have been barred from traveling to the United States for meetings.
In addition to an expected meeting with President Roberto Micheletti, Ros-Lehtinen plans to meet with Honduran Foreign Minister Carlos Lopez Contreras, Deputy Foreign Minister Martha Lorena Alvarado, Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez, civil society representatives, and American business leaders living in Honduras.
Ros-Lehtinen will also meet with U.S. embassy officials for a classified briefing on U.S. security interests related to Honduras and the region.
“I am traveling to Honduras to conduct my own assessment of the situation on the ground and the state of U.S. interests in light of the U.S.’s misguided Zelaya-focused approach,” Ros-Lehtinen said.
“I also wish to ensure that the Honduran people and democratic constitutional government have the opportunity to tell their side of the story, given that the international community has ignored the will of the Honduran people throughout this process,” she said.
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