UNITED STATES: FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT CESAR GAVIRIA INAUGURATED AS SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ORGANISATION OF AMERICAN STATES

Record ID: 337973

  • Title: UNITED STATES: FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT CESAR GAVIRIA INAUGURATED AS SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ORGANISATION OF AMERICAN STATES
  • Date: 15th September 1994
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (SEPTEMBER 15, 1994) (REUTERS TELEVISION - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV ZOOM IN AND PUULL OUT NEW ORGANISATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS) SECRETARY-GENERAL CESAR GAVIRIA BEING INAUGURATED (SPANISH) Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 30th September 1994 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVAA7JOA5E8BN75LLIT8YS9XEHYD
  • Story Text: Former Colombian president Cesar Gaviria, who has cemented peace with guerrillas and clamped down on cocaine cartels, on Thursday (September 15) became Secretary-general of the Organisation of American States.

    In his inaugural speech at the OAS headquarters Gaviria, aged 47, mapped out a long-term plan to strengthen the institution, often dismissed in the past as a toothless debating society.

    Referring to three pressing issues facing the region -- Haiti, Cuba and an upcoming summit of the Americas -- Gaviria said, "I know well I have not been summoned to manage any routine." OAS critics made no secret of the fact they look to Gaviria to lead the organisation into the whirlwind-paced change he imposed in Colombia during his four-year presidency.

    During his tenure, which he ended in August with high approval ratings, Gaviria steered the violence-ridden country through far-reaching constitutional and economic reforms.

    The soft-spoken economist also found time to support negotiations in political conflicts in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Venezuela.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register