Panamas OAS ambassador rejects circus spokesman criticism

Panama's ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Guillermo Cochez, has dismissed criticisms from other delegates about his statements on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

"I do not think I've received any attack on my position, I have received personal attacks that have no meaning," said Cochez, on RPC Radio, Wednesday January  16.

Cochez said that he took no position regarding the situation in Venezuela and only criticized the position of the current Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza.
"I criticize Insulza's position to become the spokesman for all of us in the OAS-to interpret the Constitution of Venezuela," he said.
Cochez described as "regrettable" the words of Venezuelan ambassador Roy Chaderton
During a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS), Cochez, was severely criticized by his peers, following comments he made about the political situation in Venezuela.
"We are in the presence of a sick democracy," said Cochez and until the Venezuelan mess is resolved the entire organization is complicit.
"You are not a politician, you are not a gentleman, you're a jerk," said Chaderton, to Cochez.
"Mr. Ambassador of Panama (…) no one has dared to tell you but you are a very bad painter," he added.
Chaderton rejected the "wild, persistent and pathological chain of interference in the internal affairs of the Bolivarian democracy, of Venezuelan democracy." He said that the references by Cochez over the health of President Chavez were made on behalf of the Government of Panama.
"I prefer argument with the owner of the circus and not the circus spokesman … I refuse to accept that the recurrent incursions against my country and my government, and the poisonous comments about the health of President Chavez, are not made on behalf of his government, "he said.
Denis Moncada, Nicaragua, was among other ambassadors who supported the criticisms made by the Venezuelan ambassador.
Chavez underwent his fourth cancer surgery on December 11, 2012. Since then he has had direct contact with his country. The government claims that Chavez is in office, even though he could not be sworn in on January 10 for a six year term..