The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, César Gaviria, announced in Lima, Peru, today the appointment of former Guatemalan Foreign Minister Eduardo Stein as head of the OAS Electoral Observation Mission to Peru. The Organization's team of election monitors is being sent to observe the April 8, 2001 elections, at the invitation of Peru's government.

Mr. Stein is due in Lima the first week of February, along with specialists from the OAS' Unit for the Promotion of Democracy.

Stein led the OAS Mission that monitored last year's elections in Peru and over the last few months has closely followed developments in Peru and the process to strengthen the country's democracy.

The Secretary General noted that Stein's experience and familiarity with the process will serve the Mission very well. "The positive impression that Mr. Stein's work has left makes him acceptable to all parties involved in the electoral process. His participation will be a letter of guarantee for everyone," declared Mr. Gaviria.

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