Lima, October 31, 2003

The Andean Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers, in an extended meeting with the Member Countries’ Representatives to the Andean Community Commission, accepted today the resignation of the Secretary General, Guillermo Fernández de Soto, as from December 31, 2003.

In his resignation letter, the Secretary General advised that the Colombian Government had asked him to accept an important diplomatic responsibility, this being an unavoidable obligation which he must accept.

Fernández de Soto took this opportunity to make a balance of his administration as head of this sub-regional body, which contributed to the opening of the integration process and the definition of a new multi-dimensional agenda for the Andean Community, within the framework of a second generation of policies, which was approved by the Heads of States in their recent meeting in Quirama - Colombia. This new agenda goes beyond the emphasis exclusively on trade matters and widens the spectrum of action towards strategic areas such as common foreign policy, social development, physical integration and border development, as well as sustainable development - environment and energy alliances.

In addition, he gave thanks for the constant collaboration and support of the Andean Governments, which enabled him throughout this term to reactivate the agenda with the various ministries and government entities, significantly enriching the integration action.

The Vice-President of Peru and Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Raúl Diez Canseco, emphasized on behalf of his government, the human and professional qualities of Guillermo Fernández de Soto, at the same time acknowledging the new driving force achieved by the Andean Community under his leadership.

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Peru, Allan Wagner, underlined that during the administration of Guillermo Fernández de Soto, a second generation integration was inaugurated, being fully approved and backed by the Andean Presidents in the Quirama - Colombia summit meeting. “This is, without doubt, the most significant legacy left by Guillermo, a fundamental element in the consolidation and development process of our integration process”, he underlined.

The Foreign Affairs Minister of Colombia, Carolina Barco, indicated that the Secretary General “has left us with a great message because of the important role he has played in the development of the immense potential of the CAN. It is a task which leaves us with renewed faith in the integration”. She acknowledged also the readiness and generosity of Fernández de Soto to participate, in a new stage of his professional life, in government tasks entrusted to him by President Alvaro Uribe.

For his part, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Venezuela, Roy Chaderton, in a moving speech, regretted the resignation of the Secretary General at a time when “the best of his work was beginning to bear fruit”. He stressed his convictions concerning integration and invited him to keep contributing, under his new diplomatic duties, to the welfare of the Andean countries.

To these voices of acknowledgement and appreciation, were added those of the Foreign Affairs Minister of Bolivia, Juan Ignacio Siles del Valle, and the Foreign Affairs Vice-Minister of Ecuador, Edwin Johnson López.