(US Supported Candidate) Mexico Backs Out of OAS Race

[Robbien]

Apr 29, MEXICO CITY (IPS) - Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez unexpectedly bowed out of the race for OAS secretary-general Friday, leaving the path clear for his rival, Chilean Interior Minister José Miguel Insulza, to be elected to the post on Monday. Derbez, who tied with Insulza in all five rounds of voting that took place on Apr. 11, withdrew his candidacy just three days before the new election scheduled by the OAS (Organisation of American States), to be held in its Washington headquarters.

. . .

The foreign ministers were in Chile Thursday and Friday to take part in the Third Conference of the Community of Democracies. Insulza embraced and thanked his former opponent. "Here we have witnessed an act of verification of consensus, and later an act of generosity, for which I feel deep, heartfelt gratitude," said the Chilean minister.

Mexican sources who preferred to remain anonymous commented Friday that Derbez withdrew because two countries, Paraguay and the Dominican Republic, had apparently decided to switch their support over to the Chilean candidate.

. . .

"What happened was unexpected," foreign affairs analyst Rolando Chacón remarked to IPS, "but it is better for Mexico to have decided to back out of the race with dignity rather than accept a defeat. But the decision was undoubtedly negotiated in exchange for something." There is speculation that the foreign ministers who met with Derbez negotiated his withdrawal in exchange for a commitment to support a Mexican candidate to another important regional post, such as the head of the Inter-American Development Bank.

http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/interna.asp?idnews=28508

[bemildred]

1. Yippee! This is great. nt