US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA951

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000951 
 
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, MAY 03, 2005 
 
 
1. On 5/03 the Tegucigalpa-based moderate paper "El Heraldo" 
published an editorial entitled "New era for the OAS." 
"With yesterday's election of the socialist Insulza as 
Secretary General, the OAS begins a new era, after being 
 
SIPDIS 
without a Secretary General for more than a year due to the 
resignation of the Costa Rican former president Miguel Angel 
Rodriguez." 
 
"The novelty in this election is that for the first time in 
57 years the U.S. couldn't force a candidate. It is possible 
that the support of President Bush's government was the ruin 
of the Mexican candidate." 
 
"The American government had no choice but to accept the new 
regional reality and give their support to Insulza." 
 
"Despite the hope for a greater OAS independence from U.S. 
control, the truth is that the hemispheric organization is 
dealing with one of the most difficult moments not only 
because of the deep economic crisis but also because it 
lacks credibility." 
 
"We hope that, with the arrival of Insulza, more action is 
to be seen from a organization that can contribute a lot to 
the well-being of democracy and the people of this 
continent." 
 
Palmer