MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay optimistic about the OAS report and its repercussions

Ambassador Hugo Saguier Caballero, as time passes, the issue becomes less urgent

Paraguay is optimistic about an Organization of American States resolution regarding recent events and the current situation in the country, despite strong criticism from other regional organizations such as Mercosur and Unasur.

“We are optimistic regarding the next meeting of the Permanent Council” said OAS ambassador Hugo Saguier Caballero arguing that the delay in convening the council can be considered “something positive” for Paraguay.

To that effect Saguier Caballero mentioned two practical issues: first that the new Jamaican ambassador and who will be presiding over the Permanent Council has yet to arrive in Washington and secondly that OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza is on a Central American tour.

“The more time countries have to analyze the report is positive since it means the return to normality, meaning the Paraguayan issue is no longer urgent, which helps to keep talking, discussing and negotiating with the many actors interested in knowing what really happened in the country”, he added.

Saguier Caballero said that at the moment his job was to explain what is going on in Paraguay because “the level of mis-information to put it mildly is almost cruel”. He pointed out he had received many invitations from research and analysis centres not only in Washington, but also in New York and Miami “who are interested in having me talk about the situation”.

However Ambassador Saguier Caballero said that following the fact-finding report on Paraguay from OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza “it is entirely clear that OAS as a mother institution is an element to strengthen our institutions, our democracy and it is not used as a flame thrower to further divide. This is what moves most countries in OAS”.

“Each time we receive more signals of support” said Saguier Caballero who admitted to have met even with ambassadors from countries which have not shared the position of the current administration but with “whom we have tried to find common ground”.

Both Mercosur and Unsaur suspended Paraguay from their organizations until new elections are held in the country.

Finally the ambassador said that even observer countries from Europe and Asia have shown an interest in knowing about the situation, which contrasts strongly with the manipulated information from media “strongly ideological”.