Assembly/AU/Decl.5 (XIII) Page 1 DECLARATION OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UNION ON THE COUP D’ÉTAT IN HONDURAS WE the Heads of State and Government of the Assembly of the Union meeting at our Thirteenth Ordinary Session, held in Sirte, Great Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, from 1 to 3 July 2009 were briefed on the situation in Honduras. STRESSING that Africa, which continues to suffer from the scourge of unconstitutional changes of government and maintains a strong partnership, based on shared values, with Latin America and the Caribbean, has a keen interest in the early resolution of the crisis, as well as on the respect of legality and democratic principles. NOTING that the coup d’état that took place in that country on 28 June 2009 was a clear violation of the provisions of the Inter-American Democratic Charter, STRESSES the need to ensure the restoration of constitutional order and the respect for legality and democratic norms. WELCOMES the unanimous rejection by the region of this unconstitutional change of government and EXPRESSES its full support to the efforts being undertaken by the Organization of American States (OAS). CONDEMNS the coup d’état that took place and that led to the overthrow of the democratically-elected President Jose Manuel Zelaya. CALLS ON all the political and social actors of Honduras to embark on a constructive dialogue to peacefully resolve the problems facing their country, with the view to strengthening democracy and the rule of law in the country. Adopted by the Thirteenth Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Sirte, Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on 3 July 2009