MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US supports Flores for OAS top job

United States formally announced Wednesday its support for former El Salvador president Francisco Flores as the next Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General.

"Flores is a dynamic former head of government who has the political acumen, regional stature, administrative capability and necessary experience to head the most important multilateral organization of the hemisphere", pointed out the US State Department in a release to the press.

"Committed to democracy and multilateralism, former president Flores personifies the values which support the workings of OAS", added the release.

This is the first time Washington makes official its full support for Mr. Flores, although it was anticipated in diplomatic circles, since the dismissal of Miguel Angel Rodríguez from Costa Rica who was forced to resign following charges of alleged corruption while president of his country.

The US at all times had stated it supported a "consensus" Central American candidate, preferably a former president.

Mr. Flores this Wednesday visited OAS Standing Council where he talked about his candidacy underlining his experience in regional integration affairs and promised to defend the smaller economies of the hemisphere.

Following his address to the Standing Council Mr. Flores held a press conference next to US Deputy Secretary of State for Hemispheric Affairs Roger Noriega who described the former Salvador president as a representative of the "new generation of Latinamerican leaders".

Tradition indicates that even when the US is one of 33 votes, no candidate supported by Washington has lost an OAS election.

Mr. Flores OAS address coincided with the oath ceremony in the White House of Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State of the incoming re-elected President Bush administration.

Ms. Rice who replaces Colin Powell was nominated by Congress after ten hours of debate, Tuesday and Wednesday, with a final vote count of 85 against 13.

The former national security advisor is one of President's Bush staunchest supporters of the war in Iraq and combating terrorism. She's also the first Afro-American woman to hold the Secretary of State post