President-elect Ollanta Humala said Monday that he will call on the former secretary-general of the United Nations, Javier Perez de Cuellar, for advice during his administration, state news agency Andina reported.
“My intention was to convince him to open a bridge, to be able to seek and receive his advice and experiences in order to have a good government,” Humala said following the meeting with Perez de Cuellar.
Perez de Cuellar, born in Lima in January 1920, joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1940 and the diplomatic service in 1944. He was a member of the Peruvian delegation to the UN’s general assembly at its first session in 1946.
He later served as Peru’s ambassador to Switzerland, the Soviet Union, Poland, Venezuela and France. He was appointed the UN’s secretary-general in 1982 and held that position until 1991. He also served as prime minister during the nine-month Paniagua transition government between President Fujimori’s resignation and the election of President Alejandro Toledo.
Humala was elected on July 5 after defeating opponent Keiko Fujimori in the second round vote.
A poll by Ipsos Apoyo and published by daily El Comercio on Sunday shows Humala with a 70 percent approval rating.
Sixty percent of those polled said they want Humala to continue promoting investments and 55 percent want him to fight corruption. In addition, 45 percent say they would like Humala to appoint independents as his prime minister and minister of economy and finance.
Humala has come under pressure to quickly appoint his cabinet following his election, which initially triggered a 12.5 percent drop in the Lima stock exchange BVL’s general index. While the stock market has since recovered, Humala has said he will announce his cabinet by month-end.
He will assume office on July 28 for a five-year term.
