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