United Nations Family Mourns Néstor Kirchner while Recognizing His Important

 

Legacy, Secretary-General Says at Memorial for Former Argentine President

 

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the Memorial for Néstor Kirchner, former President of Argentina and Secretary General of UNASUR (Union of South American Nations), in New York, today, 15 November:

It was with great sadness that I learned of the sudden passing of former President of Argentina Néstor Kirchner.  His death was an acute loss for Argentina, the region and the United Nations family.

As the first Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations, UNASUR, Mr. Kirchner spent the last months of his life travelling throughout the region, advocating for regional integration, which he believed would be a decisive step for multilateralism and peace.

He worked tirelessly for the entry into force of UNASUR’s constitutive treaty.  As a result, more countries ratified the treaty and parliaments in the region are debating regional integration.  And he sought, through mediation efforts and other initiatives, to ensure that UNASUR would be an effective instrument of preventive diplomacy.

His commitment transcended political ideologies and earned him the respect and admiration of regional leaders.  The UNASUR he leaves behind is widely seen as a stronger regional forum for peace and democracy, and as an effective mechanism for resolving regional disputes.

I am especially grateful for Mr. Kirchner’s engagement on the situation in Haiti.  Mr. Kirchner supported MINUSTAH [United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti] from its establishment in 2004.  Indeed, his humanitarian solidarity led to the establishment of the first UNASUR technical secretariat outside of the region.  The UNASUR office in Port-au-Prince continues to play a valuable role in coordinating aid from the region to Haiti, and sets an example of a region coming together to assist a neighbour in need.

Mr. Kirchner was also strongly committed to human rights, at home and at the international level.  During his presidency, Argentina had a leading role in the drafting and adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

We at the United Nations offer our profound condolences to Her Excellency Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina, and to all other family members and friends in Argentina and beyond who have been touched by this loss.  In fact, I conveyed in person my deepest condolences to President Fernandez while in Seoul.  At this time of sorrow, the United Nations family mourns President Kirchner’s passing but recognizes his important legacy.

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For information media • not an official record