Bolivia is to woo Peru to jointly support the candidacy of Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Derbez for the secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), media here reported Saturday, citing Bolivian Foreign Minister Juan Siles.

"We seek to form a joint position with Peru and this means we are going to ask Lima to support Mexico," Siles said ahead of his trip to Lima scheduled for Monday.

He said a historical factor "prevents us from voting for the current candidate of the South American region," namely Chilean Interior Minister Jose Insulza.

"There was a war (1879-1883) and this injury remains present in our country," Siles said in reference to the war with Chile during1879 to 1883.

The OAS is to elect a new secretary general in Washington on Thursday. Candidates for the post include Derbez, Insulza and Salvadoran ex-President Francisco Flores.

The 34-member organization has been running without a general secretary since former Costa Rican President Miguel Angel

Rodriguez resigned last October as a result of corruption charges against him in his own country.

Source: Xinhua