Declaration by the Presidency, on behalf of the EuropeanUnion, on Honduras

COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Brussels, 29 June 200911530/09 (Presse 198)
P 74

Declaration by the Presidency, on behalf of the European Union, on HondurasOn 28 June Foreign Ministers of the European Union strongly condemned the military actions which were directed against democratically elected President Zelaya and part of hiscabinet and have violated the constitutional order of Honduras.

The EU urges theimmediate release of all detained governmental representatives and calls on all relevantparties and institutions to refrain from violence and to strive to find a swift and peacefulsolution to the current situation. This should be in accordance with the existingconstitutional order of Honduras, the principles of rule of law and democracy.

The EU highlights the importance of restoring the constitutionality and stabilityof the political and security situation in the country and underlines the importance ofensuring that fair, timely and transparent presidential elections are held in November 2009.

The constitutional rules and respect for human rights are the cornerstones of democratic
governance anywhere in the world.