MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS nomination: increasing Chilean optimism.

Chilean Foreign Secretary Ignacio Walker said Wednesday in Santiago that “it's not in our mind to lift or drop candidacies” and what “we aspire is hemispheric consensus for Jose Miguel Insulza” in his bid to become Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS.

"It's not a matter of lifting or dropping candidacies; we're in the middle of a democratic exercise which must be de-dramatized", said Mr. Walker in reply to a question about a Mexican Congress proposal that the two candidates disputing the OAS post, Mr. Insulza and Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez, walk down leaving room for a "consensus candidate". "Besides I do not comment decisions from the branch of a friendly country, such as Mexico", he added.

Mr. Walker argued that contrary to press speculations the dispute for the post which last April 11 was postponed following a voting round of five ties, "has given OAS great vitality".

"We want to beef up OAS and the region, and we believe that Mr. Insulza has the political leadership and stuff to do so. But I insist it's not in our mind to lift or drop candidacies. What we're after is a strong consensus behind Mr. Insulza".

Mr. Walker made the comments during the inauguration of the press office for the "III Democracies Summit" which officially begins Thursday with the participation of 104 world delegations including forty Foreign Affairs ministers.

The Chilean minister also reported that Canada confirmed to Chilean president Ricardo Lagos that Ottawa would not be presenting a candidate for the OAS post.

"Canadian Primer Minister Paul Martin clearly and categorically informed President Lagos that there's no Canadian candidacy to the OAS", underlined Mr. Walker.

Earlier in the week a Quebec newspaper reported that Canadian Foreign Secretary Pierre S. Pettigrew would be presenting his "consensus" candidacy".

Alarmed at the news, President Lagos contacted Mr. Martin on the matter.

"Therefore the two candidates remain, and obviously the option of the Chilean government from now until Monday May 2 voting is to build a consensus around Mr. Insulza".

Meantime a delegation of Chilean Congressmen visiting Haiti managed the "explicit guarantee" from President Boniface Alexander that the country would support Chile next Monday. In the April 11 round, Haiti voted for Mexico.

Chilean troops under United Nations command are helping to disarm and pacify the violence torn Caribbean country.