UN mourns passing of former Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuéllar
Javier Perez de Cuéllar, the fifth United Nations Secretary-General, praised for his ability to foster dialogue and for leading the Organization through a turbulent decade, has passed away at the age of 100.
A veteran Peruvian diplomat, lawyer and professor, he is first and only Latin American to hold the top UN job so far.
In a statement Wednesday evening, current UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that he was profoundly saddened at Mr. Perez de Cuéllar’s passing and praised the former UN chief as “an accomplished statesman, a committed diplomat and a personal inspiration who left a profound impact on the United Nations and our world.”
Born in Lima, Peru, on 19 January 1920, he was appointed to lead the UN after 42 years of diplomatic service.
