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