MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean candidate closer to OAS Secretary General post

Caribbean community countries, Caricom, officially informed Friday of their full support to the Chilean candidate for the post of Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS.

"The Caribbean Community wishes to inform that an ample majority of country members have made public, following consultations, their support to Chilean candidate, His Excellency Jose Migue Insulza", said the release delivered to the Chilean Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Caricom member countries support is vital for the vote to be taken next April 7 during a special session of OAS General Assembly in Washington.

Two other candidates are El Salvador former president Francisco Flores, who apparently has the support from Washington and Mexican Foreign Affairs minister Luis Ernesto Derbez for whom Canada has promised to vote.

All three candidates have lobbied extensively during the last three months with Chilean officials making six regional trips visiting fifteen countries.

Mr. Insulza has counted almost from the start with the support of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela.