MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bielsa promises “Malvinas” campaign in OAS summit

“Malvinas” is a priority issue which Argentina will present to the Organization of American Status (OAS) XXXVth. General Assembly which meets this Sunday until next Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry underlined that the issue is considered by OAS as of "permanent hemispheric interest" including the decision "to continue examining it until a definitive solution".

Acting in the assembly's chair for the first time will be Jose Miguel Insulza, OAS Secretary General recently elected after a long contested process that demanded the mediation of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

US President George Bush is scheduled to address the assembly June 6 with Ms. Rice playing a crucial role in the debates since the US is hosting the meeting for the first time since 1974.

The Argentine delegation will be headed by Foreign Affairs minister Rafael Bielsa who will be presenting several initiatives to strengthen human rights cooperation between hemispheric countries, according to an official Argentine release.

Among the initiatives figures a debate for the implementation of an inter-American program for the rights protection of immigrants and their families, as well as norms to draft regular reports on the issue.

Two controversial issues figure in the agenda: a Washington sponsored initiative to create a democratic governance monitoring mechanism, (targeted mainly on Venezuela and President Hugo Chavez) and the political situation in Bolivia.

However the US initiative did not receive an encouraging reaction and Bolivia rejects any interference in their internal affairs and will not accept any proposal involving Mr. Insulza from Chile, neighboring counties with long standing unsolved border disputes.

Parallel to the OAS assembly there will be a ministerial preparatory meeting that will be responsible for the organization of the IV Summit of the Americas next November in Mar del Plata, Argentina.