-9- AG/RES. 1975 (XXXIV-O/04) RECOGNITION OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MR. CÉSAR GAVIRIA, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (Adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 8, 2004) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT that the term of office for which the former President of Colombia, César Gaviria, was elected Secretary General of the Organization of American States concludes in September; RECOGNIZING the outstanding work done by Mr. César Gaviria in his 10 years at the helm of the Organization, when the OAS came to play a leading role in the defense of democracy in the Hemisphere and in promoting general respect for the principles of sovereignty, nonintervention, solidarity, and peaceful settlement of disputes; EMPHASIZING that, during his period in office, Mr. César Gaviria participated personally and assiduously in resolving political and humanitarian difficulties threatening the normal course of democratic activities in the different regions of the Americas; INDICATING that one of the major concerns of the Secretary General was the establishment of conditions to enhance good relationships between the countries of the inter-American system and integration among the sister nations of the Americas; and COMMENDING the accomplishments that, under the leadership of Mr. César Gaviria, established the Organization of American States as a center for discussion of the Hemisphere’s most pressing concerns, RESOLVES: 1. To underscore that Secretary General César Gaviria was constantly intent on modernizing the Organization's internal activities and ensuring its cohesiveness, impetus, and effectiveness, so that it was able to improve administrative and management performance. 2. To applaud the achievements of Mr. César Gaviria as Secretary General of the Organization of American States. 3. To thank Mr. César Gaviria for the conscientiousness, integrity, and intelligence with which he fulfilled the responsibilities entrusted to him by the Organization; and for his contributions to the stabilization of democratic processes in the region, the pacific settlement of disputes, and the forging of a new vision of the Organization of American States.