MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

OAS fact-finding mission presents report to Permanent Council next Monday

Insulza thanked all Paraguayans for their openness and collaboration with the mission

Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza concluded on Tuesday his fact-finding visit to Paraguay, where he headed a special mission that included OAS Permanent Representatives from Haiti, Canada; United States; Honduras and Mexico.

The mission met with authorities from the three branches of Government, as well as the main stakeholders in the current political crisis, in order to submit a report to the OAS Permanent Council.

“We leave under the impression that there was openness from everyone to provide us with information on the case, full access, and a strong desire to look forward to the future and to continue building this country. To that end, dialogue and understanding are necessary, and I hope we can contribute towards that goal,” Secretary General Insulza said after the visit.

Insulza said that he wished to thank “all Paraguayans for the kind attention they provided us. These were two days of uninterrupted work, which included conversations with all branches of the State: Executive, Legislative, and Judicial; the Electoral Court; President Lugo, his attorneys and former collaborators, as well as the Catholic Church”.

In less than two days, Insulza completed an agenda that started with a meeting with President Federico Franco and Foreign Minister José Fernández Estigarribia. This was followed by a meeting with former President Lugo and his attorneys, with former Interior Minister Carlos Filizzola and with the heads of the Senate, Jorge Antonio Oviedo Matto, and the Chamber of Deputies, Víctor Bogado.

With the aim of listening to all sides’ versions and analyses of the situation, the OAS Mission met with representatives from the Authentic Radical Liberal Party (PLRA), Guasú Front, Colorado Party, National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE), and Beloved Fatherland Party (PPQ).

A meeting with the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Víctor Núñez, was also on the agenda of Insulza and the Ambassadors, who met as well with all members of the country’s highest court of justice.

The Episcopal Conference of Paraguay, the National Federation of Farm-workers, indigenous leaders, the Industrial Union, journalists and media owners completed the list of interviews held by the OAS Mission, which aimed at hearing all Paraguayan political and social representatives in order to present next Monday a comprehensive report to the Permanent Council.

United States, Canada, Mexico among others are waiting for the Permanent Council to assess the report and decide what steps to follow regarding the Paraguayan situation and the status of the administration of President Franco.

The European Union has also decided to send a fact-finding mission to Paraguay.