US Endorses Flores to Become Secretary General of OAS

The United States this week endorsed Francisco Flores, the former presdient of El Salvador in his campaign to become the next Secretary General of the Organization of American States. Prior to now, the United States had only said it favored a consensus candidate from Central America. Flores was a steadfast ally of the United States throughout his presidency, including sending Salvadoran troops to join the coalition in Iraq.

Flores still faces stiff competition in the race. The other candidates for leadership of the OAS are Chilean Minister of the Interior Miguel Insulza and Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Derbez, endorsed by Canada and Belize. The trial balloon of a candidacy of Guatemalan human rights activist and Nobel laureate Rigoberta Menchu, was apparently only idle talk by the Guatemalan president.