SENATOR COVERDELL WAS "FRIEND AND SUPPORTER OF
THE OAS" -- SECRETARY GENERAL

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) C�sar Gaviria has expressed his "profound sense of loss" at the sudden death of Senator Paul Coverdell, of Georgia. Gaviria has noted that "During his seven years in the U.S. Senate, the Senator built an effective working partnership with the OAS in the effort for a more peaceful and democratic hemisphere. He was a strong, effective friend and supporter of the Organization."

Senator Coverdell, a Republican, was the former Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Western Hemisphere Affairs of the Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the Senate leadership. He had been elected in 1992.

Gaviria noted that, "Senator Coverdell realized that, as the regional international organization for the Western Hemisphere, the OAS was best qualified to assist in the consolidation of democracy, the settlement of disputes, and the control of illegal drugs."

He continued: "The fact that the Senator’s service coincided with my own term as Secretary General allowed us to get to know each other and to work on a number of important hemispheric issues."

The Secretary General added that, "Senator Coverdell’s experience and knowledge of hemispheric affairs will be difficult to replace.

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