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OAS SECRETARY GENERAL DEPLORES DEATH OF THE SISTER OF CESAR GAVIRIA

  April 28, 2006

The Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, today strongly condemned the assassination of Liliana Gaviria and expressed his heartfelt condolences to the former President of Colombia and former OAS Secretary General, César Gaviria, brother of the victim, as well as to the entire family.

Insulza sent the following message to President Gaviria: “On behalf of the OAS member states and on my own behalf, I am hereby conveying to the family of Liliana and to you, Sir, our deepest condolences over this tragic loss stemming from the violent, cowardly and unprovoked incident. I most vehemently condemn this senseless act of violence that causes tremendous damage to Colombian society and have left the entire inter-American community in mourning.”

Insulza also expressed condolences to the family of the bodyguard who was killed in yesterday’s brutal attack.

The Secretary General said that incidents such as these lead him all the more to redouble his efforts and commitment to help bring about peace in Colombia. He added that such crimes against citizens are a grave threat to international humanitarian law and to peace and security in Colombia.

Insulza called on the Colombian authorities to spare no effort in apprehending the perpetrators and invoke the full force of the law.

Reference: E-105/06