The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), César Gaviria, has expressed his condolences on the passing of Gláucia Baena Soares in New York yesterday. Mrs. Baena Soares was the wife of former OAS Secretary General João Clemente Baena Soares. Mr. Gaviria conveyed his deepest sympathies to Mr. Baena Soares and his family.

Mrs. Baena Soares worked tirelessly alongside her husband in strengthening and defending our democracies and also sought to help bring prosperity to our peoples, said Gaviria. Over the years, she committed herself to promoting the cultural values of our Hemisphere and was a major force behind the creation of the Americas Film Festival in Washington, D.C., which she once described as "my dream come true." She said it was one vehicle through which to "foster greater understanding among the peoples of the Americas."

Devoting herself to family and to culture, Mrs. Baena Soares found in this enterprise the fulfillment of her dreams. The Americas Film Festival is still an important film festival on the Washington, D.C., cultural calendar.

"We will always remember Gláucia with fondness and admiration," said the Secretary General. "Her work will always stand as an example to those who are struggling to bring about a better future for our peoples."

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