US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA950

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000950 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR IIP/G/WHA AND IIP/T/ES, 
FOR WHA/PDA, WHA/USOAS, AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, PREL, KPAO, PGOV, KDEM, HO 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE OAS, APRIL 30, 2005 
 
 
1. On 4/30 the Tegucigalpa-based liberal daily "La Tribuna" 
published an editorial entitled Big Leagues."  "Central 
America was excluded from the decisions in the OAS's 
Secretary General election." 
 
SIPDIS 
 
"The U.S. wouldn't risk a rupture in the hemisphere, even 
less so when the purpose of Rice's trip was to remake 
relationships with some governments in South America. Mexico 
considered not pushing on its leader." 
 
"Now Central America has no choice but to support the 
continental interests." 
 
2. On 5/02 the Tegucigalpa-based moderate paper "El Heraldo" 
published an editorial entitled "Insulza: New OAS Secretary 
General."  "The astonishing withdrawal of the Mexican 
candidate clears the way for the Chilean Insulza as 
Secretary General." 
 
SIPDIS 
 
"Without a doubt, behind the withdrawal of the Mexican 
Candidate is the clever diplomacy of the Secretary of State, 
Condoleeza Rice, who takes away the idea that America is 
divided in two blocks." 
 
"We trust that Insulza will handle intelligently the destiny 
of America. Also the election of the new OAS Secretary 
General is important and crucial, especially after recent 
events." 
 
The San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" published 
an editorial titled "The OAS."  "Derbez attempt as Secretary 
General ended on Friday and cleared the way for Chilean 
candidate, who today will assume the management of the 
regional organization." 
 
"The OAS needs a consensus Secretary General to deal with 
the problems of the region." 
 
"Rice's presence wasn't casual. Washington wouldn't risk a 
defeat in the election that would later mean a weakening of 
the region." 
 
"Today's appointment is an example in favor of the interests 
of the American nations and the health and strengthening of 
the regional organization." 
 
The San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "Tiempo" carried an 
editorial entitled "Tiebreaker."  "The withdrawal of the 
Mexican Candidate to Secretary General allows the election 
of a solid candidate." 
 
"The OAS will find a new focus in its behavior and 
responsibilities. The last chapter of this story, the ouster 
of the former Costa Rican president, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, 
couldn't be more illustrative." 
 
"The path of the OAS under a hemispheric consensus criteria 
could be a rebirth and synchronization with the thoughts of 
our supreme politicians, like Valle and Bolivar." 
 
"This will mean putting into practice an American 
philosophy, instead of the Pan-American, which prevailed on 
a continental scale since the Monroe-American doctrine." 
 
 
Palmer