MEDIA REACTION ON THE OAS, APRIL 30, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000950 SIPDIS FOR IIP/G/WHA AND IIP/T/ES, FOR WHA/PDA, WHA/USOAS, AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV KDEM HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE OAS, APRIL 30, 2005 ¶1. On 4/30 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" published an editorial entitled Big Leagues." "Central America was excluded from the decisions in the OAS's Secretary General election." SIPDIS "The U.S. wouldn't risk a rupture in the hemisphere, even less so when the purpose of Rice's trip was to remake relationships with some governments in South America. Mexico considered not pushing on its leader." "Now Central America has no choice but to support the continental interests." ¶2. On 5/02 the Tegucigalpa-based moderate paper "El Heraldo" published an editorial entitled "Insulza: New OAS Secretary General." "The astonishing withdrawal of the Mexican candidate clears the way for the Chilean Insulza as Secretary General." SIPDIS "Without a doubt, behind the withdrawal of the Mexican Candidate is the clever diplomacy of the Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, who takes away the idea that America is divided in two blocks." "We trust that Insulza will handle intelligently the destiny of America. Also the election of the new OAS Secretary General is important and crucial, especially after recent events." The San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" published an editorial titled "The OAS." "Derbez attempt as Secretary General ended on Friday and cleared the way for Chilean candidate, who today will assume the management of the regional organization." "The OAS needs a consensus Secretary General to deal with the problems of the region." "Rice's presence wasn't casual. Washington wouldn't risk a defeat in the election that would later mean a weakening of the region." "Today's appointment is an example in favor of the interests of the American nations and the health and strengthening of the regional organization." The San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" carried an editorial entitled "Tiebreaker." "The withdrawal of the Mexican Candidate to Secretary General allows the election of a solid candidate." "The OAS will find a new focus in its behavior and responsibilities. The last chapter of this story, the ouster of the former Costa Rican president, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, couldn't be more illustrative." "The path of the OAS under a hemispheric consensus criteria could be a rebirth and synchronization with the thoughts of our supreme politicians, like Valle and Bolivar." "This will mean putting into practice an American philosophy, instead of the Pan-American, which prevailed on a continental scale since the Monroe-American doctrine." Palmer