MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fidel Castro blasts OAS Secretary General.

Chilean president Ricardo Lagos defended Thursday the recently nominated Organization of American States Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza from Cuba's Fidel Castro harsh criticisms.

Mr. Lagos said that Cuba is part of OAS but it's the countries and not the Secretary General who determines their inclusion or not.

"I believe Cuba is part of OAS, but what is empty is Cuba's chair. It was a decision taken at its time (1962) and it's something about which all country members must talk, so it's a task which clearly belongs to countries and not the Secretary General", stressed Mr. Lagos.

Earlier in the day the Cuban leader had disqualified OAS and warned Secretary General Insulza not to commit mistakes when criticizing his regime.

"The midget knight went just too far", said Mr. Castro in direct reference to Mr. Insulza's call for promoting democracy and human rights respect in Cuba.

"He should be a little more careful, no matter his recent nomination in OAS", which is a "corrupt, putrefied and stinking institution" said Mr. Castro in a national televised message.

Mr Castro believes that Mr. Insulza nomination, confirmed by 31 out of 34 OAS votes was an act of "treacherous impudence in complicity with the empire (US)". "The very dumb Insulza believes he has the right to interfere here in Cuba; must be to thank Miss. Rice (US Secretary of State) and the gnome of Noriega (Deputy Secretary of State for the Americas) for having had him elected in the OAS post".

Washington's strong lobbying convinced Mexican Foreign Affairs minister Ernesto Derbez to desist of his OAS candidacy, opening the way for Mr. Insulza.

Describing Mr. Insulza's reference to democracy and human rights in Cuba, Mr. Castro said he would not tolerate "that kind of insolence and interference". "Mr. Insulza is the empire's new regional puppet", underlined Fidel Castro.

In Santiago Mr. Insulza preferred not to answer and simply said his job was "dialogue; not this kind of dialogue, so it's better not to reply"