The former United Nations secretary-general Javier Perez de Cuellar dies at age 100, his family confirmed on Thursday.
The Peruvian Foreign Ministry confirmed the sad news, saying that of the most prominent diplomat of the country has passed away aged 100.
The UN’s current Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, said he was “profoundly saddened” by the passing of his predecessor, in a statement from his spokesman.
“He was an accomplished statesman, a committed diplomat and a personal inspiration who left a profound impact on the United Nations and our world,” Guterres added.
Perez de Cuellar’s son, Francisco, told Peruvian radio channel RPP that his father died after a complicated week, the 100-year-old man died at 8:09 pm on Wednesday.
On Thursday, Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to Perez de Cuellar’s family in a tweet.
Perez de Cuellar: a legendary diplomat and prominent person
Born in Lima in 1920, Perez de Cuellar served as the fifth UN secretary general between 1982 and 1991, following a long diplomatic career.
Perez de Cuellar’s tenure as secretary-general saw him play a crucial role in diplomatic successes such as the independence of Namibia, the end of the Iran-Iraq war and a peace agreement in El Salvador, Guterres said.
In 1995, he ran for president in Peru but was defeated by incumbent Alberto Fujimori. The world-famous diplomat served later prime minister and then foreign minister for a short stint in 2000 to 2001.
“Javier Perez de Cuellar died at 100 in his home. One of the most illustrious Peruvians … has left us,” former Peruvian Congress head Pedro Olaechea wrote on Twitter.
The former ambassador will be lying in state at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, the ministry said in a statement.
