Javier Pérez de Cuéllar was born in Lima on 19 January 1920 and is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished members of the Peruvian Diplomatic Service.
Throughout his long and distinguished diplomatic career, which began at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1940 and formally in the Diplomatic Service in 1944, Ambassador Pérez de Cuéllar served in Peruvian diplomatic missions in France, the United Kingdom, Bolivia, and Brazil.
He later served as Ambassador of Peru to Switzerland, the Soviet Union, Poland, and Venezuela, and as Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations.
In 1979, he was appointed Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the United Nations. In 1981, he was elected Secretary-General of the United Nations, becoming the first Latin American diplomat to hold that office.
During his tenure as Secretary-General, he played a key role in the peaceful resolution of several international conflicts and in advancing dialogue and multilateral cooperation during a complex period of the Cold War.
Ambassador Pérez de Cuéllar received numerous Doctor Honoris Causa degrees from prestigious universities around the world, in recognition of his contributions to international diplomacy and the promotion of peace.
In Peru, he also rendered distinguished public service. During the transitional government of President Valentín Paniagua, he served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Council of Ministers, contributing his experience and moral authority to the country’s democratic transition.
Ambassador Javier Pérez de Cuéllar passed away in Lima on 4 March 2020. His legacy remains a source of inspiration for generations of Peruvian diplomats and for all those committed to the principles of international law, peaceful dispute settlement, and multilateral cooperation.
