MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Uruguay presents Foreign minister Almagro as OAS Secretary General candidate

Almagro has been foreign minister since Mujica took office in 2010

Uruguay has presented the candidacy of its current Foreign minister Luis Almagro to succeed Jose Miguel Insulza as head of the Organization of American States, OAS Secretary General, it was reported on Tuesday from Montevideo.

 “President Jose Mujica, in the name of Uruguay has decided to present Foreign minister Luis Almagro as candidate for the OAS Secretary General post”, reads the official release.

”It's a candidacy from our country (Uruguay) for the strengthening and renewal of OAS“, said the Uruguayan government reiterating its commitment to dialogue and the ”search for consensus“.

Almagro, 51, is a solicitor who was ambassador in China, and as a diplomat ”is involved in a fluid dialogue“ with all presidents and foreign ministers of the Americas.

The release also points out to the thrust given to Uruguayan foreign policy in human rights, which together with the defense of democracy, peace, security and social justice are ”the pillars for the re-launching of a renewed action for OAS”.

Almagro will be on Thursday in Washington at the meeting of OAS foreign ministers to discuss Argentina's case against the speculative funds and will be offering a press conference on his candidacy.

OAS member countries must chose a successor to Insulza, elected in 2005 and re-elected in 2010 for another five years which come to an end in May 2015.