By consensus, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States decided today to re-schedule to next Monday, April 11, at 10:00 a.m., the special General Assembly session that will elect a new Secretary General. The General Assembly is the Organization’s highest decision-making body, comprising the hemisphere’s foreign ministers.

The Permanent Council convened in special session Monday afternoon to approve the change of the election date—which had been set originally for Thursday, April 7—in order to accommodate foreign ministers of the hemisphere who will travel to Rome for the funeral services for the late Pope John Paul II later this week.

Following a minute of silence to honor the memory of the late Pontiff, Permanent Council Chairman Ambassador Alberto Borea of Peru conveyed the collective sympathies of the member states when he eulogized the total integrity between the Pope’s life and message. Borea said the personality of Pope John Paul II and what he did for humanity transcended all barriers.

During today’s Council session as well, the Permanent Mission of El Salvador announced that the sworn declaration of assets had been submitted for that country’s candidate for the top OAS post, former President Francisco Flores . All three candidates have now submitted their declaration of assets, in the interest of transparency.

Along with Flores, the other candidates for Secretary General are José Miguel Insulza , Chile’s Interior Minister, and Luis Ernesto Derbez , Mexico’s Foreign Secretary.

Reference: E-065/05