A Christian Democrat, like his Venezuelan counterpart Roy Chaderton used to be, Panama's Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) Guillermo Cochez considers that the good days of the government of Venezuela's President Hugo Chávez in the organization are over. Cochez clashed with his Venezuelan counterpart during the session of Wednesday, March 3 at the OAS Permanent Council. That same day, the Argentinean ambassador took distance from Venezuela in relation to Chaderton's criticism of a report prepared by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) on the Venezuelan state of affairs.

Did countries which usually support Venezuela's stances mark boundaries after the debate at the OAS Permanent Council?
I joined the OAS last July, three days after the inauguration of (Panama's President) Ricardo Martinelli, when Honduras was suspended. From then to date there has been a substantial change at the Organization. On July 4 and 5, when the Honduras case was discussed, (Foreign Minister) Nicolás Maduro came for Venezuela; (President) Cristina Fernández for Argentina, and (President) Fernando Lugo for Paraguay. On that occasion, Maduro exerted a huge influence on the two presidents I just mentioned and on the ALBA (Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America) Member States.

Such influence was even arrogant, because Maduro disrespected Costa Rica's Ambassador and current president of the Permanent Council, José Enrique Castillo Barrantes. However, such prevalence, which included the Hondurans and Honduras' Foreign Minister Patricia Rodas, has been declining, to such an extent that today, at the OAS, Venezuela's position is upheld by Nicaragua only. Bolivia, Paraguay or Ecuador has not gone out, over the past four or five months, to fight for any of the positions of the Venezuelan government. Further, Bolivian Ambassador José Enrique Pinelo turned out to be among the most conciliatory and well-balanced in the Organization. In any case, I do not think there is any marking of boundaries, but day after day, more and more countries wish democracy, not only won in election, but practiced in office. In this regard, Venezuela, along with Nicaragua, is getting increasingly isolated.

What might be the effects of such isolation in the Inter-American System, considering that Chávez forms part of an initiative aimed at creating a new hemispheric organization, except for the United States and Canada, which organization, it is speculated, could replace the OAS?
Such organization will not be ever created because when the time comes and the cash is required to found and operate the new organization, countries will hardly make their contributions. Such a threat to pull out off the OAS is not news. I was at the General Assembly in San Pedro Sula, last July, and there, Nicaragua, Honduras -through President (Manuel) Zelaya, Paraguay, Argentina and Venezuela, launched a smear and threat campaign against the OAS if Cuba was not included. At long last, with a very smart vote, it was agreed -with the US vote- to lift the 1962 sanction on Cuba, but its entry was tied to compliance with the principles of the Democratic Charter. But the Cuban government cannot comply with it because it lacks the slightest bit democracy. Now, therefore, it is just another threat and those which will leave will end up losing. That was proven in the case of (former Peruvian President Alberto) Fujimori, who left the IACHR and a couple of months later he was out of office. Those who offend the OAS and its officials, as Venezuelans have done to (IACHR Executive Secretary) Santiago Cantón, and also revile Spaniards and North Americans, denigrate their own country, because their language spoken is not consistent with the language of democrats.

Having known the contents of the IACHR report, applying the Democratic Charter to Chávez's government, considering that even Argentina moved away from Venezuela, is feasible?
This will be a bit harder, because three thirds of the Assembly's vote is needed. I think we are on our way to such kind of positions, but some choices may be first used. The report is opening the eyes of many people, particularly because of the Venezuelan government position.

Translated by Conchita Delgado