BRASILIA, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ousted Honduran
President Manuel Zelaya and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on
Wednesday called on the United States to use more political influence to help
solve the Honduran crisis.
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva shakes hands with Honduras' ousted President Manuel Zelaya (L)
during a meeting at the Cultural Center Banco do Brasil in Brasilia August
12, 2009.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo
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Zelaya, who was in Brazil for a visit, called on the
U.S. government to take more measures such as trade sanctions against the
Honduran interim government. 70 percent of the Honduran economy depends on the
United States.
Reaffirmed his
support for Zelaya's "immediate and unconditional" return to Honduras, Lula said
he would talk to his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama on the issue at an
appropriate time.
But there wasn't a date set for the conversation
between the two leaders.
After the meeting, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celson
Amorim told the press that Zelaya's return would largely depend on the position
of the United States.
"President Lula said that clearly we are concerned by
the delay (of Zelaya's return), because as time passes, the possibility that
President Zelaya's legitimate elections (scheduled for November) is weakening,"
Amorim said.
Zelaya was expected to end his term as president at
year-end.
"This depends on what the United States will act,"
Amorim said.
"It must be a multilateral action. We believe that
actions should be conducted by the OAS (Organization of American States)," he
added.
Zelaya was deposed in a June 28 military coup.
Following the coup, Brazil recalled its ambassador from Honduras and suspended
cooperation with the Central American nation.
Zelaya arrived in Brasilia Tuesday and was welcomed
by the Brazilian government with honors for a head of state.
He will leave Thursday morning for Chile to meet with President Michelle Bachelet.
