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Alegrett honored by Andean
Ministers and decorated
by governments of Peru and Bolivia
Lima, July 7, 2002. The Andean
Community Secretary General,
Venezuela’s Sebastián Alegrett,
was decorated today by the
governments of Bolivia and Peru
and honored by the CAN Ministers
of Foreign Affairs and of Trade.
The
decorations were awarded to him
for his “renowned services in
benefit of Andean integration” at
the meeting of the Andean Council
of Foreign Ministers in enlarged
session with the CAN Ministers of
Trade, held today at the
headquarters of the Andean
organization.
Bolivia conferred the Simón
Bolívar Order of Civil Merit in
the Degree of Great Cross on Mr.
Alegrett for “his lifelong
dedication to integration,” which
“has been a deciding element in
harmonizing the interests of the
region, with tangible results of
mutual benefit for the Andean
countries.”
In
the words of Bolivian Foreign
Minister, Gustavo Fernández, the
decoration “which bears the name
of Venezuelan Libertador Simón
Bolívar, who freed my country, is
now in the hands of another
illustrious Venezuelan, another
fighter for the freedom and unity
of America, who raised that
standard in the same spirit as the
man who ignited the continent with
the fire of his words and actions.”
Peru,
for its part, decorated him with
the Order “Of Merit for
Distinguished Services” in the
Degree of Great Cross, on
considering that his leadership
“has helped to strengthen the ties
of friendship and cooperation
between the Republic of Peru and
the Andean Community and for his
contribution toward promoting and
boosting harmonious relations
among the CAN member countries.”
Peruvian Foreign Minister Diego
García Sayan underscored “the
vital and unique impetus” given to
the CAN under the direction of
Ambassador Alegrett, whom he
defined as “a bastion of Andean
integration,” who “believed and
continues to believe that this
process is essential to the
welfare of our nations.”
The
Andean Council of Foreign
Ministers and the Andean Community
Commission, in turn, presented him
with a silver tray in “recognition
of the quality of his commitment
to integration.”
In
presenting the tray to Ambassador
Alegrett on behalf of the
Ministers, Colombian Foreign
Minister Guillermo Fernández de
Soto expressed their
“appreciation, with deep affection
and emotion, for all that you have
signified in the life of the
Andean region and of Latin America.”
Ecuador’s Foreign Minister, Heinz
Moller, conveyed to Alegrett “the
strong and fraternal embrace of
your friend, President Gustavo
Noboa, and of the people of
Ecuador” and recalled that the
Libertador Simón Bolívar “taught
us that the Andean condor flies
and flies high, as you have done
and as you have in some way taught
us to do.”
In
expressing his appreciation for
these honors, Alegrett stated that
“five years ago, in Bolivia, the
Andean Presidents, facing the
possibility of a severe crisis
stemming from Peru’s announced
withdrawal,” honored him by
appointing him Secretary General
of the CAN.
Today, --he went on to add-- “I
find it a most interesting paradox
that in that same Bolivia, five
years later, the Andean Presidents
have pledged to put into effect a
Common External Tariff, in which
all of the countries will
participate.”
“All
that remains -he stressed-- is to
have the courage to cross the
Rubicon, in order to be able, as
soon as possible, to have our own
customs union, with our own
economic space, so that our Common
Market can be in place in 2005.”
The
event was attended by the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and
of Trade of Bolivia, Colombia,
Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, the
President of the Peruvian Congress,
the representatives of the bodies
and institutions comprising the
Andean Integration System and
other high-level Peruvian
government officials.
Ambassador Sebastián Alegrett will
conclude his 5-year term of office
on August 1, 2002, at which time
the new Secretary-elect and
present Foreign Minister of
Colombia, Guillermo Fernández de
Soto, will assume the position.
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