US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION537

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Identifier:	05ASUNCION537
Wikileaks:	View 05ASUNCION537 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Asuncion
Created:	2005-04-20 20:20:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	AORC PREL PA OAS
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000537 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE WHA/BSC AND OAS 
NSC FOR KIM BREIER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AORC, PREL, PA, OAS 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY TO SUPPORT CHILEAN INSULZA AS OAS SYG 
 
 
1. According to press reports, President Duarte's Private 
Secretary Jose Maria Ibanez has announced that Paraguay will 
 
SIPDIS 
support Miguel Insulza, the Chilean candidate for Secretary 
General of the OAS when member States vote again on May 2. 
Ibanez noted that President Duarte had only pledged to 
Mexican President Fox Paraguay's support for Mexican 
candidate Luis Derbez in the first round.  The press says 
Duarte decided to withdraw Paraguay's support for Derbez 
after recent conversations with Brazilian President Lula and 
Chilean President Lagos, both of whom sought Paraguay's 
support for Insulza.  Paraguay had been the only country 
within Mercosur backing Derbez. 
 
2. The MFA has declined to make its own announcement pending 
FM Rachid's return to Paraguay later today, 4/20, from a trip 
abroad. 
 
3. (SBU) Comment: The GOP decision to support Insulza would 
effectively undermine FM Rachid's candidacy for the office of 
Assistant SYG given the unlikelihood member States would 
select two candidates from the same region to head the 
organization.  Moreover, it would be another display of 
Brazil's capacity and willingness to blantantly exercise 
influence over the GOP. 
KEANE