MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Reshuffle in Uruguayan cabinet.

A reshuffle in the Uruguayan cabinet in the international relations area is expected in the coming weeks according ours sources in Montevideo.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Opperti an expert in International Private Law apparently will be leaving for an international post in the Organization of American States and will be replaced by Raul Lago, a former Ambassador in Venezuela and currently Chief cabinet minister.

Mr. Lagos post will be filled by Carlos Ramela advisor to President Jorge Batlle who steered the Peace Commission tasked with finding a human and political solution to the tens of disappeared dissidents during military rule in Uruguay (1973/84), a bitter and controversial legacy that still divides Uruguayan society.

Mr. Opertti with a renowned international reputation and who presided over the United Nations General Assembly has been preparing to leave his post for some time.

However press reports indicate that some recent foreign affairs very personal actions of President Batlle have surprised Mr. Opperti, who has a more diplomatic approach.

During a press conference at the end of April after meeting President Bush in the White House, Mr. Batlle in response to a specific question regarding the shooting of three Cuban suspects Mr. Batlle said that "Mr. Castro is an assassin". Mr. Batlle further openly supported President Bush for actions in Iraq and criticized the United Nations lack of initiative when the official Uruguayan position originally was giving more time to the arms inspectors before appealing to military response.

Uruguay has been at loggerheads with Cuban president Fidel Castro since it began co-sponsoring before the United Nations Human Rights Committee a proposal to send a human rights independent observer to the island. Mr. Castro insists in calling Mr. Batlle a "traitor" and a US "boot licker".

President Batlle has also been indirectly critical of Mercosur by insisting in giving priority to trade and political relations with United States, an issue that caused concern in the new Brazilian government of President Lula da Silva and in Argentina.

Furthermore president Batlle has publicly and repeatedly forecasted that his good friend Carlos Menem will be the next Argentine president and also publicly counseled Paraguayan elected president Nicanor Duarte on how to proceed with the formation of his administration.

During meeting with President Bush, Secretary of State Collin Powell and Advisor Condoleeza Rice, that extended for double the time scheduled, Mr. Batlle thanked the Bush administration for its financial support last August during a crucial moment for the Uruguayan banking system and for speeding the opening of the US market to Uruguayan beef, one of the country's main exports.