Ashley
4th September 2009, 20:54
When days ago the IMF announced to give $150 million...
"The de facto government of Honduras has received $150 million from the International Monetary Fund even though President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup in June.
The Special Drawing Rights from the Washington-based lending agency will be used to boost its dollar reserves, Honduras' central bank said Tuesday. It will receive an additional $14 million in the next few weeks, it added.
In April, the IMF agreed to issue its member countries $250 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDR), a mechanism to improve liquidity by printing new money to counteract the effects of the global economic crisis. Mexico and Nicaragua received similar issues last week.
Washington is expected to make a decision soon on whether to declare the ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya a military coup.
The move would cut off tens of millions of dollars of aid to Honduras as the US bars aid to governments whose head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.
The United States has already suspended about $18 million in aid to the Central American nation.
Meanwhile, the State Department said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to meet Zelaya on Thursday"
US ceases aid over Honduras coup
Friday 04 September 2009
The US government finally declared on Thursday that it would permanently suspend all aid and assistance to Honduras because of the coup regime's failure to restore "democratic and constitutional rule."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's action cuts more than $31 million (£19 million) in non-humanitarian assistance, including $11m (£6.7m) remaining in a more than a $200m (£122m) five-year assistance programme run by the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said: "The secretary of state has made the decision, consistent with US legislation, recognising the need for strong measures in light of the continued resistance to the adoption of the San Jose Accord by the de facto regime and continuing failure to restore democratic, constitutional rule to Honduras."
Ousted President Manuel Zelaya welcomed the news.
"It is gratifying that the United States has taken a strong position against the coup," he said.
Mr Zelaya later claimed that he would be returning to his country in the next few days.
He said: "Today, I can assure you all that my return to Honduras is imminent.
"First, I am exhausting the channels of international diplomacy, but I am still committed to coming back and completing each day of my mandate."
Ms Clinton made the decision even though she did not determine that the coup had met the US legal definition of a military coup d'etat.
Such a finding would have forced the administration to cut off assistance earlier and has been urged by some leading members of Congress.
"This one looks, walks and quacks like a duck," said house foreign affairs committee chairman Howard Berman.
"It's time to stop hedging and call this bird what it is."
The government of coup leader Roberto Micheletti appeared unperturbed by the news.
The regime's home affairs spokesman sent a letter to Ms Clinton condemning the decision on Thursday night.
"Whether you wish us well or not, we will pay any price, we will bear any burden, we will take on any difficulty, we will support any friend and oppose any enemy to ensure the survival and the success of liberty and democracy in our country," said Oscar Raul Matute.
"The de facto government of Honduras has received $150 million from the International Monetary Fund even though President Manuel Zelaya was ousted in a coup in June.
The Special Drawing Rights from the Washington-based lending agency will be used to boost its dollar reserves, Honduras' central bank said Tuesday. It will receive an additional $14 million in the next few weeks, it added.
In April, the IMF agreed to issue its member countries $250 billion in Special Drawing Rights (SDR), a mechanism to improve liquidity by printing new money to counteract the effects of the global economic crisis. Mexico and Nicaragua received similar issues last week.
Washington is expected to make a decision soon on whether to declare the ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya a military coup.
The move would cut off tens of millions of dollars of aid to Honduras as the US bars aid to governments whose head of government is deposed by military coup or decree.
The United States has already suspended about $18 million in aid to the Central American nation.
Meanwhile, the State Department said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to meet Zelaya on Thursday"
US ceases aid over Honduras coup
Friday 04 September 2009
The US government finally declared on Thursday that it would permanently suspend all aid and assistance to Honduras because of the coup regime's failure to restore "democratic and constitutional rule."
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's action cuts more than $31 million (£19 million) in non-humanitarian assistance, including $11m (£6.7m) remaining in a more than a $200m (£122m) five-year assistance programme run by the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said: "The secretary of state has made the decision, consistent with US legislation, recognising the need for strong measures in light of the continued resistance to the adoption of the San Jose Accord by the de facto regime and continuing failure to restore democratic, constitutional rule to Honduras."
Ousted President Manuel Zelaya welcomed the news.
"It is gratifying that the United States has taken a strong position against the coup," he said.
Mr Zelaya later claimed that he would be returning to his country in the next few days.
He said: "Today, I can assure you all that my return to Honduras is imminent.
"First, I am exhausting the channels of international diplomacy, but I am still committed to coming back and completing each day of my mandate."
Ms Clinton made the decision even though she did not determine that the coup had met the US legal definition of a military coup d'etat.
Such a finding would have forced the administration to cut off assistance earlier and has been urged by some leading members of Congress.
"This one looks, walks and quacks like a duck," said house foreign affairs committee chairman Howard Berman.
"It's time to stop hedging and call this bird what it is."
The government of coup leader Roberto Micheletti appeared unperturbed by the news.
The regime's home affairs spokesman sent a letter to Ms Clinton condemning the decision on Thursday night.
"Whether you wish us well or not, we will pay any price, we will bear any burden, we will take on any difficulty, we will support any friend and oppose any enemy to ensure the survival and the success of liberty and democracy in our country," said Oscar Raul Matute.