MEDIA REACTION ON THE OAS, MAY 03, 2005

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000951 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, MAY 03, 2005 ¶1. On 5/03 the Tegucigalpa-based moderate paper "El Heraldo" published an editorial entitled "New era for the OAS." "With yesterday's election of the socialist Insulza as Secretary General, the OAS begins a new era, after being SIPDIS without a Secretary General for more than a year due to the resignation of the Costa Rican former president Miguel Angel Rodriguez." "The novelty in this election is that for the first time in 57 years the U.S. couldn't force a candidate. It is possible that the support of President Bush's government was the ruin of the Mexican candidate." "The American government had no choice but to accept the new regional reality and give their support to Insulza." "Despite the hope for a greater OAS independence from U.S. control, the truth is that the hemispheric organization is dealing with one of the most difficult moments not only because of the deep economic crisis but also because it lacks credibility." "We hope that, with the arrival of Insulza, more action is to be seen from a organization that can contribute a lot to the well-being of democracy and the people of this continent." Palmer