Chilean ambassador to the UN Heraldo Munoz (right), congratulates countryman Dr. Jose Miguel Insulza (centre), the new secretary general of the Organisation of American States, on his election in Washington yesterday. Insulza and Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez, who withdrew from consideration on Friday, had deadlocked on five consecutive ballots on April 11. - REUTERS
WASHINGTON, CMC:
CHILE'S INTERIOR Minister José Miguel Insulza was yesterday elected as secretary general of the Organisation of American States (OAS) for a five-year period.
Insulza, who received a majority vote of 31, has pledged to strengthen the organisation's "political relevance and its capacity for action".
Panama's First Vice President, Samuel Lewis Navarro, presided over the 13th special session of the OAS General Assembly that was called specifically to elect the secretary general.
Insulza urged all member- states to "seize the opportunity to strengthen the OAS and reinforce its role in fostering democratic values and as a guarantor of the diverse hemispheric interests".
"The guarantee of respect for the fundamental rights of citizens, the rule of law, civil liberties, respect for minorities and for the institutions of the democratic system is crucial," the secretary general-elect added, noting that "it is imperative that the commitments adopted under the Inter-American Democratic Charter be wholly adhered to".
INTEGRATION KEY ROLE
Insulza said he would strengthen the OAS as it pursues its mission of hemispheric integration, and expressed his hope that "this guiding spirit would lead the member states, as well as the secretariat, to a pragmatic response to the region's current situation, its needs and the demands of its citizens".
The new secretary general appealed for the active support of member states to help reinvigorate the OAS, noting "this entails a realistic approach to the chronic budget deficit that besets our organisation".
Last month, the OAS failed to elect a new secretary general after five rounds of voting.
Insulza was being challenged by Mexico's Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez for the post, but yesterday, the Chilean Foreign Minister was elected with just two abstentions and one blank vote.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries had been divided on the issue with at least 10 of the 15-member grouping backing Insulza.
A third candidate, former Salvadoran President, Francisco Flores, dropped out of the race last month, ensuring that for the first time, a candidate backed by the United States would not be chosen as OAS secretary general.
The election for a new OAS secretary general was called after the previous secretary general, Miquel Angel Rodriquez, resigned in October last year after less than a month in office and returned to Costa Rica to face charges he had accepted kickbacks during his 1998-2002 presidency.
