OAS ambassador satisfied with diplomatic gaffe

Panama’s ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), remains "very satisfied" even as the government distanced itself from remarks he made on Wednesday January 16, about Venezuela and Hugo Chavez.

Guillermo Cochez said Thursday January 17 "I'll only say that I am very satisfied with what I did and I don't regret it." He also criticized OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza .
Cochez did not answer the question about whether or not he intends to submit his resignation, as some have suggested. He reiterated that it was his intention to draw attention to Insulza and his political goals in Chile. The diplomat quoted an article published last month in Chile which stated that Insulza is preparing to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections in that country.
Insulza "does not want to address issues that harm his image," Cochez said. "He is not thinking of the OAS, but of his future."
President Ricardo Martinelli Said Yhtursday that did not share the Ambassador’s opinions on Venezuela.
Martinelli emphasized that this was the personal opinion of Cochez and stated that the Foreign Ministry issued a statement declaring the government did not support that position.
He added that he hopes that the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarifies the position of Panama.
Lawyer and Panamanian diplomat Jorge Eduardo Ritter said Cochez must resign for the speech in which he criticized the internal politics of Venezuela and the government of President Hugo Chávez.
"We have an ambassador who does not represent the interests of Panama … I suspect that he will be given the opportunity to resign," Ritter said.
Ritter said what happened yesterday in the Permanent Council of the OAS is really unusual because Cochez ceased to be the representative of the government of Panama to become the spokesman of the opposition in Venezuela.
"This is not the role that corresponds to an ambassador with a regional or international body," Ritter said.
Ritter was surprised that Cochez is still in the position, saying he should have already resigned because he was over-ruled by his own Foreign Ministry.