President Ma cancels trip to Honduras

Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Ma will cut short his diplomatic tour, which originally included plans to visit Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras, and will return to Taiwan two days earlier than scheduled.

Honduras President Manuel Zeyala was arrested and forced into exile by military leaders Sunday ahead of a controversial constitutional referendum.

Wang said the decision to exclude Honduras from Ma's itinerary was based on safety and security considerations and in view of the fact that the unstable situation in Honduras precludes the purpose of Ma's visit there.

With the cancellation of the Honduras leg of the trip, President Ma will return to Taiwan on July 6, two days ahead of schedule, but his plans to visit Panama and Nicaragua remain unchanged, Wang said.

The main purpose of President Ma's upcoming Central America tour is to attend the inauguration of Panama's President-elect Ricardo Martinelli in Panama City July 1, Wang said.

During his stay in Panama, Ma will also hold talks with senior officials of the new Panamanian government, visit the Panama Canal, give interviews to the international news media and meet with Taiwanese community leaders.

First lady Chow Mei-ching will accompany Ma on the June 29-July 6 diplomatic tour, Wang said, adding that Chow will visit a charity organization that is headed by the new Panamanian first lady.

Following his trip to Panama, Ma will travel to Nicaragua where Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega will drive him to the hub of a bilateral technological cooperation project, which will allow Ma to interact with Nicaraguan citizens.

Ma will also attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony at large trade fair to be held in Nicaragua July 1-5, at which many Taiwanese companies are expected to exhibit their latest products.

During the Nicaragua visit, first lady Chow will visit the local branch of World Vision -- a Christian charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged people around the world -- and a development center for physically challenged children.

Ma will make a transit stop in San Francisco en route to Panama and will stop in Hawaii on his way home.

He will be accompanied by a 129-member delegation of government officials, legislators, industry executives, academics, university presidents, local government chiefs, charity group executives and performing artists.

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