NYU DC Dialogues: A Conversation with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro

By -
3062

A Conversation with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro. The NYU Brademas Center and NYU Washington, DC co-hosted a discussion with Secretary General of the Organization of American States Luis Almagro. This conversation focused on the essential role of the international community in helping to strengthen democracy in the Americas. The discussion also covered the outlook on crucial issues that are directly affecting the hemisphere such as the state of affairs in Cuba, the political crisis in Venezuela and Nicaragua, among others. Geovanny Vicente Romero, Founder, Dominican Republic Center of Public Policy, Leadership and Development (CPDL-RD) and writer for CNN, moderated the conversation. Luis Almagro, formerly Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay between 2010 and 2015, has served as Secretary General of the Organization of American States since May 2015. As Foreign Minister for President José Mujíca, he defined several emblematic initiatives that put the small South American country on the global map, from receiving former prisoners from Guantanamo, to welcoming dozens of Syrian families who had been victims of the country´s conflict, to building support in the United Nations so that, beginning in 2016, Uruguay became part of the Security Council.

The Hon. Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States

The Honorable Luis Almagro is the Secretary General for the Organization of American States. In this role, Almagro aims to ensure “more rights for more people” and to bring the Organization closer to the realities of the Hemisphere. Prior to his election, Dr. Almagro served in various diplomatic posts in addition to holding numerous positions in the Uruguayan government. He served as Uruguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2010 to 2015, prior to which he was Uruguay’s Ambassador to the Republic of China. He also served as an advisor to then Minister José Mujica before being appointed Director of the International Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries in 2005. His diplomatic career began in 1998 when he was appointed Representative of Uruguay for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. During this time he also headed the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries in the United Nations and was Coordinator of the Group of 77 and China. Before that he was the National Coordinator for the Group of Temperate Southern Hemispheric Countries on the Environment (the Valdivia Group) from 1997 to 1998. Prior to that he served five years as Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Uruguay in Iran. Between 1989 and 1991 he presided over the International Cooperation Committee of the National Drug Board in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Almagro holds a Law Degree from the Universidad de la República and has taken several courses in Diplomacy in the Artigas Foreign Service Institute.

 

Geovanny Vicente Romero

Geovanny Vicente Romero is a columnist for CNN based in Washington, DC. He is a political strategist, international consultant and lecturer. He has published many articles on development, human rights, governance, democracy, elections, the environment, as well as the role of women in a society. He is the founder of the Dominican Republic Center of Public Policy, Leadership and Development (CPDL-RD). Geovanny has a masters degree from The George Washington University in political communications and strategic governance. Reach him on Twitter @GeovannyVicentR.

 

 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY