Mexican foreign secretary foresees victory in OAS race
Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez is looking forward to his victory in the pan-American race as he is likely to win 21 votes in the battle for the top post of the Organization of American States (OAS), the national daily El Universal reported Tuesday.

To win the post of the OAS secretary-general, a candidate must get at least 18 votes from its 35 members. Both Derbez and Chilean Interior Minister Jose Insulza claimed 17 votes in the initial race held on April 11. The second round of voting is planned for May 2.

Derbez, who was on a visit to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, forecast his win with the backing of a few more countries including Honduras.

The Mexican top diplomat was in Tegucigalpa to sign the Treaty of Maritime Demarcation in the Caribbean with Honduran Foreign Minister Leonidas Rosa.

A third possible candidate for the OAS chief could be former Foreign Minister Ernesto Leal of Nicaragua, if the May 2 elections produce another draw, according to Derbez.

The race, which is one of the stiffest since the group was founded half a century ago, was launched after the previous OAS chief, Miguel Angel Rodriguez, quit amid a financial scandal. The former Costa Rican president had to face charges at home after having been at the helm of the organization for less than a month.