(E-145/00)
August 7, 2000

ECUADOR HAS NEW AMBASSADOR TO OAS

Blasco Peñaherrera, Ecuador's new Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), presented credentials to Assistant Secretary General Luigi R. Einaudi on Monday, asserting that with all its limitations, "the OAS is called upon to perform the great task of consolidating political and democratic institutions in our countries, thereby ensuring firmer steps toward development."

The Ecuadorian diplomat said he was honored to present credentials to "someone the people of my country owe a debt of gratitude for helping in the noblest of tasks an international official can perform--promoting peace and consolidating friendship between our peoples." He also commended the role Ambassador Einaudi had played representing guarantor countries in the negotiations that led to Ecuador and Peru signing a peace accord.

"Despite the unfortunately complex and difficult situation in my country," Ambassador Peñaherrera stated, "I was honored to accept the mandate from President Gustavo Noboa Bejarano at a time when Ecuador must use its membership in international organizations to pursue every avenue to promote political stability and consolidate democracy, which are vital to development, well-being, justice and freedom."

Ambassador Einaudi observed that, having made great strides towards peace Ecuador could now devote more effort to strengthening the Andean region and the rest of the Hemisphere. "With his vast diplomatic and political experience, Ambassador Peñaherrera's presence at the OAS will help to advance the hemispheric solidarity we all seek," the Assistant Secretary General observed.

This is Ambassador Peñaherrera's second time as Ecuador's Permanent Representative to the OAS. He served in that capacity from January 1993 to August 1996 and had also chaired the OAS Permanent Council and the then Inter-American Economic and Social Council. A lawyer and journalist by profession, Peñaherrera was also Ecuador's Vice President from 1984 to 1988.

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