MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US admits crucial role in OAS vote

United States admitted Tuesday it played a crucial role in making Mexican Foreign Affairs minister desist from his candidacy to the Organization of American States, OAS, Secretary General post and so opening the way for the elected Chilean candidate Jose Miguel Insulza with an overwhelming support.

"We must remember that yesterday's (Monday May 2) unifying result was sponsored by the leadership of United States", said Roger Noriega Deputy Secretary of State for Hemispheric Affairs. "Frankly speaking United States is the only country that could have pushed for that positive result favouring the unity of the Americas and in favour of a leader that is committed publicly to the consolidation of democracy", added Mr. Noriega.

Speaking with reporters during the 35th conference of the Council of the Americas in Washington, Mr. Noriega said that "cynics argue that US policy is to divide and rule, but yesterday facts talk for themselves". In Mr. Insulza's election for the OAS post, "US leadership, particularly of Secretary of State (Condoleezza) Rice ensured the hemisphere would continue united behind OAS, where all countries are at the same level, from St Kitts & Nevis to the United States", continued Mr. Noriega. However he made it a point of underlining that there is a myth that Washington in the past had always elected OAS Secretary Generals and that "is pure nonsense". "On the contrary we were among the last countries in giving our support to Miguel Angel Rodriguez from Costa Rica who took office last September" and was forced to resign a month later following corruption allegations.

OAS Secretary General is elected by a majority of votes from the 34 country members and there's no difference regarding the funds each country contributes, as happens in multilateral financial institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, Inter American Development Bank. In OAS each country has one vote even when US supports 60% of OAS budget.

Following Mr. Rodriguez ousting, US supported former El Salvador president Francisco Flores, who did not muster sufficient votes and stepped down before the first round in April 11. The voting ended in five successive ties between Mr. Insulza from Chile and Mr. Derbez from Mexico.

United States which supported Mr. Derbez in the first round last Monday pushed for his candidacy desistance to avoid another tie or a very shallow victory with only one or two votes difference that would have seriously limited the legitimacy and political strength of the winner, besides the negative image for the continent.

Mr. Derbez stepping down was announced last Friday in Santiago de Chile following a meeting of several Foreign Affairs ministers including Ms. Rice, but Mr. Derbez and the Mexican government officially stated there was no pressure from Washington.

For Mr. Noriega OAS main challenge is developing tools by which the hemispheric organization can ensure democratic governance in all countries, which is one of the main issues to be addressed in the coming General Assembly next June5/7 in Fort Lauderdale, plus electing the Deputy Secretary General to succeed Luigi Einaudi from the US.

But a more immediate challenge came from Mexican president Vicente Fox who demanded that Mr. Insulza from his new job helps find a quick solution to land locked Bolivia's Pacific Ocean access claim. Mr. Fox is currently in an official visit to Bolivia, and access to the Pacific means crossing disputed northern Chilean territory.

Chile which has occupied the disputed territory since defeating Bolivia and Peru in the 1879 Pacific war is willing to lend a stretch of land and port facilities, but Bolivia insists it wants it with full sovereignty rights.

President Fox after recalling Mexico's gesture to avoid the "polarization" of the region, insisted that in the spirit of unity, "Bolivia's maritime claim must be addressed and a solution found, in harmony privileging and guaranteeing the interests of both Bolivia and Chile". "A fair deal for Bolivia so it can have the spaces it needs to develop; that is what we clearly expect from the Secretary General, for unity and Latinamerican solidarity", added Mr. Fox.

Chile's official policy is that the matter has been closed and refuses to open talks if the word sovereignty is included.