MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile confident with OAS candidacy

Chilean Foreign Affairs Minister Ignacio Walker said he was confident that the Chilean candidacy for Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS, will conclude “successfully”.

Interior Minister Jose Miguel Insulza is Chile's candidate for the OAS post.

"We have a majority, a clear majority?But a majority sometimes is not enough so we continue working for an ample consensus", said Mr. Walker

OAS 34 members will be voting next April 7 for OAS Secretary General among three candidates: Jose Miguel Insulza from Chile; Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Derbez and Franciso Flores former president of El Salvador.

Representatives lobbying for the three different candidates have anticipated victory, but Mr. Walker was more cautious.

"We've never wanted to count the votes with anticipation because we believe it's a lack of respect for the 34 countries involved in the nomination process".

Whoever is elected will take office in Washington sometime next June/July said Mr. Walker.

Interior Minister Insulza said he felt calm about the outcome of the voting and revealed he won't be moving from Santiago.

"I don't think it's reasonable for me to travel to Washington, but I'll be informed of what happens in the Foreign Affairs Ministers assembly", underlined Mr. Insulza.