PARAGUAY TO SUPPORT CHILEAN INSULZA AS OAS SYG

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000537

SIPDIS

STATE WHA/BSC AND OAS
NSC FOR KIM BREIER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREL PA OAS
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY TO SUPPORT CHILEAN INSULZA AS OAS SYG



1. According to press reports, President Duarte's Private
Secretary Jose Maria Ibanez has announced that Paraguay will

SIPDIS
support Miguel Insulza, the Chilean candidate for Secretary
General of the OAS when member States vote again on May 2.
Ibanez noted that President Duarte had only pledged to
Mexican President Fox Paraguay's support for Mexican
candidate Luis Derbez in the first round. The press says
Duarte decided to withdraw Paraguay's support for Derbez
after recent conversations with Brazilian President Lula and
Chilean President Lagos, both of whom sought Paraguay's
support for Insulza. Paraguay had been the only country
within Mercosur backing Derbez.


2. The MFA has declined to make its own announcement pending
FM Rachid's return to Paraguay later today, 4/20, from a trip
abroad.


3. (SBU) Comment: The GOP decision to support Insulza would
effectively undermine FM Rachid's candidacy for the office of
Assistant SYG given the unlikelihood member States would
select two candidates from the same region to head the
organization. Moreover, it would be another display of
Brazil's capacity and willingness to blantantly exercise
influence over the GOP.
KEANE