International reaction to the 2009 Honduran coup d'état

International reaction to the 2009 Honduran coup d'état of June 28, 2009, was that the coup was widely repudiated around the globe. The United Nations, every other country in the Western Hemisphere (except Honduras itself) and others, publicly condemned the military-led 2009 Honduran coup d'état and ouster of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya as illegal and most labelled it a coup d'état. The Obama administration, along with all other governments in the hemisphere, branded the action a "coup." Every country in the region, except the United States, withdrew their ambassadors from Honduras. All ambassadors of the European Union were recalled. Venezuela said it would suspend oil shipments, and Honduras's neighbors — El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua - stopped overland trade for 48 hours. The World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank suspended lending to Honduras.

President Barack Obama of the United States said, "We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the President of Honduras." Amongst the stronger reactions, the President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez pledged to "bring down" any replacement government. International organizations such as the Organization of American States, Mercosur, and the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas also condemned the events. No foreign government recognized de facto President Roberto Micheletti.

Countries : Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer issued a statement denouncing Zelaya's removal. "It was with shock and dismay that I received news of the forced removal of President Zelaya and the kidnapping of Foreign Affairs Minister Patricia Rodas and the temporary detention and mistreatment of the Venezuelan, Cuban and Nicaraguan Ambassadors." Spencer voiced his support for OAS Resolution 953, the ALBA condemnation of the coup d'état, and called for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of President Zelaya. He also called upon the international community to reject the coup. : Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said: "I'm deeply worried about the situation in Honduras. It reminds us of the worst years in Latin America's history. We will demand that the OAS (Organization of American States) fully comply with the democratic charter that requires unconditional respect for democracy and, above all, the restoration of the Honduran president. I do not hesitate to call this a return to barbarity. All countries of the continent and the entire international community should demand the return of the democratically elected president." On August 12, 2009, Argentine organizers said the Honduran military would no longer be welcome at an upcoming meeting of regional military leaders because of its role in the coup. : Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Secretary Andrei Popov condemned the coup at a ministry press conference: "We vigorously condemn the violent upheaval of the legitimately elected President of Honduras by a group of people and his exile from the country.. ..We hope for the immediate reversion of the situation in Honduras into a legal framework and for unconditional respect by this country of its international commitments, including relevant articles of the Vienna Convention concerning security guaranties of the diplomatic staff."Press Secretary Andrei Popov responds to a media question over the developments in Honduras. : In a statement released June 29, 2009, the Government of Belize condemned the actions of the Honduran military, calling Zelaya "the only constitutional President of Honduras". The statement demanded his reinstatement, return to the rule of law and restoration of democracy.Statement of the Government of Belize on the crisis in Honduras : Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, condemned the military action. "To allow people to participate and decide the future of their country through their vote, it is not possible that some groups ignore this, including the military.". : Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the coup, called it "unacceptable", G1 - Lula diz que é inaceitável golpe militar na América Latina and averred Zelaya's return was a condition of continued relations with his country. Celso Amorim, Brazilian Minister of External Relations issued a press release "strongly condemning the military action that resulted in the ousting of the President of Honduras", urging his "immediate and unconditional return to power", and expressing "solidarity with the Honduran people."Nota nº 303 - 28/06/2009 Situação em Honduras Ministry of External Relations of Brazil. Retrieved on 2009-06-28. The Brazilian ambassador to Honduras, on vacation in Brazil, was ordered not to return to Honduras.Itamaraty ordena que embaixador brasileiro em Honduras fique no Brasil. G1.com. Retrieved on 2009-11-26. On 21 September 2009, Zelaya took refuge at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.U.S. risks isolation over Honduras election: Brazil Reuters. Retrieved on 2009-11-27. On 24 September, Brazil called an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council to ensure the safety of its embassy in Honduras.Micheletti defends response to Zelaya's return to Honduras CNN. Retrieved on 2009-09-25. Amorim told the Security Council that "since the day it has sheltered President Zelaya at its premises, the Brazilian Embassy has been virtually under siege" and that "it has been submitted to acts of harassment and intimidation by the de facto authorities".UN Security Council defends inviolability of Brazilian embassy in Honduras Xinhua. Retrieved on 2009-09-25. The UN Security Council defended the inviolability of the Brazilian embassy and "called upon the de facto government of Honduras to cease harassing the Brazilian embassy and to provide all necessary utilities and services, including water, electricity, food and continuity of communications".UN condemns Honduras 'harassment' BBC News. Retrieved on 2009-09-25. Brazil announced it would not recognize the winner of Honduras' election on November 29, 2009.Brazil says won't recognize new Honduran government Reuters. Retrieved on 2009-11-27. : Peter Kent, the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas), stated: "Canada condemns the coup d'état that took place over the weekend in Honduras, and calls on all parties to show restraint and to seek a peaceful resolution to the present political crisis..." Kent nonetheless stated that "[t]here has to be an appreciation of the events that led up to the coup" and admitted that Canadian military aid would continue to flow to Honduras, describing it as "not a major issue", and said that Canada would not be cutting the $16.4-million in development aid it provides each year. : Chilean President Michelle Bachelet condemned the coup and referred to Zelaya as "legitimately elected by the people". : Qin Gang, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, stated: "China expressed concern over the situations in Honduras and hopes it can regain stability as soon as possible." China has no formal diplomatic relations with Honduras, but is a permanent member of UN Security Council. When answering questions on their relations, Qin said the PRC government is willing to develop friendly, cooperative, normal relations with all countries under the principle of one-China, peaceful co-existence, as well as the UN Charter and related UN resolutions and principles. : The Colombian government released a four-point statement expressing profound concern over the break in constitutional order, rejected the removal by force of the democratically elected President Zelaya, called for the re-establishment of constitutional and legal order, and supported the actions of the OAS in its attempts to find democratic solutions for the crisis. President Álvaro Uribe officially stated that the Colombian Government would recognized the new President-elect Porfirio Lobo Sosa : In a joint press conference with Manual Zelaya, Costa Rican President Óscar Arias condemned the coup and said that it "indicates that democracy in Latin America and its institutions are fragile and vulnerable". Arias also said that Zelaya was personally in "good condition" and that Costa Rica was offering Zelaya "all the courtesies that he deserves".Currently the country and its president have been designated as neutral ground where the parts will meet on July 9 to negotiate an agreement. : The Cuban government condemned the coup d’état. Raúl Castro said that there should be no negotiations with the "golpistas" (coup-makers) and that Honduras has and should have only president; Manuel Zelaya. He also called the United States to act in accordance with its condemnation of the coup. : "This coup d’état represents a step backwards because it violates the Democratic Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS)", said Leonel Fernández, President of the Dominican Republic. : Rafael Correa, the President of Ecuador, said he would not recognize any new government in Honduras. : "(The Government of El Salvador) asks for the immediate restoration of the constitutional president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya", said Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes in a press conference. Funes also said that he had had a telephone conversation with Zelaya, in which he expressed "solidarity" with the deposed Honduran president. The Salvadoran Minister of Defense, David Munguía Payés, said that the Salvadoran military would reinforce three border crossings between El Salvador and Honduras. : The French Foreign Ministry said in a statement: "France firmly condemns the coup that has just taken place in Honduras. The arrests and expulsions of diplomatic envoys are a grave breach of the Vienna Convention. They are unacceptable. The constitutional order must be restored at the earliest opportunity. France calls on all parties to act with respect for the principles and values of democracy." : Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the arrest and exile of President Zelaya "an act which violates the constitutional order of the Republic of Honduras. It is now vital for Honduras to swiftly return to law and order. I call upon the conflict parties to resume dialogue and to find a peaceful solution which takes due account of democracy and the rule of law." : Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom said in a press conference that Guatemala "recognizes President Zelaya as the democratically chosen president". Colom said that he will discuss with fellow Central American presidents in Managua how to restore democracy in Honduras. : The Government of Guyana said it strongly condemned the coup in Honduras. A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government also joined the call for the early reinstatement of Zelaya. : The Concurrent Israeli Embassy for Guatemala and Honduras based in Guatemala City recognized Micheletti's Government on June 28 and recognized Honduran general election, 2009 in the following days the elections were held. : Foreign Minister Franco Frattini released a statement calling the coup "a serious violation of law and democratic rules". : Foreign Minister Dr Ken Baugh, who was also deputy prime minister, said the removal of Zelaya was in breach of the principles of respect for the rule of law, human rights and constitutional order: "The government of Jamaica maintains its full support for and recognition of President Zelaya and therefore calls for his immediate reinstatement." : The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan condemned the coup and said that initiatives taken by the international community, including the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS) should leading the parties to a solution based on the San Jose Accord as swiftly as possible. : The Mexican government condemned the arrest and forced exile of Zelaya to Costa Rica.