Farewell to Ambassador Agustín Vázquez Gómez of El Salvador

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, Carlos Roberto Quesada López.

Dear colleagues, with the leave of our regional Group, I cannot let the opportunity pass to speak in a national capacity and on a personal basis. Ambassador Agustín, today we meet here to bid you farewell and to recognize the remarkable service of a tireless Ambassador and a close friend to many of us.

First, I wish to recognize your untiring dedication and your unwavering devotion to El Salvador. Your service as permanent representative has been a beacon of honor, courage and dignity, without doubt a reflection of the Salvadoran spirit and a worthy representation of the cultural and political identity of a nation in constant evolution.

I have already said it to you personally, but it is important that it be placed on public record and that your team and your family, here present, hear it: you come dangerously close to being the epitome of a diplomat, for your ability to conciliate, to find common ground amid differences, to bring antagonists together and turn tensions into opportunities for dialogue and understanding. That distinctive quality has made you a valued intermediary in many of our most challenging conversations. Your firm, respectful and high-minded positions have placed you above the everyday; they have made you an extraordinary ambassador.

I will refer to only one specific and very recent situation: the ambassadors' retreat to which many of the colleagues who preceded me have referred, and which concluded with a fruitful exercise of collective reflection. I did not feel much optimism before arriving at that meeting, but your part in developing the methodology, together with other colleagues, allowed all of us, as representatives of our countries, to examine the state and situation of the Organization and its current challenges, and to renew our personal ties. Incredibly, we all came out unharmed. That exercise has been of great value in improving communication, understanding and collaboration among our delegations, but perhaps the most important thing, Agustín, is your ability to bring people together, not only in the professional sense but also in the personal one.

Ambassador, the peace you project radiates to everyone around you, and for that constant impulse toward calm, serenity and reflection we are deeply grateful. You have also touched our hearts with your kindness, your sincere concern for others and your readiness to help in every need. You have extended your hand in friendship to all of us, and for that we appreciate and esteem you greatly.

Today, although we bid you farewell from the Organization of American States (OAS), we know that distance will not lessen the affection and respect we feel for you. We wish you success in your next chapter and, although we part from you as Ambassador, we are certain that, as you told us only a few days ago at a social gathering, you will remain a friend and a treasured ally.

On my own behalf and that of our Delegation, thank you, Agustín. Your leadership, your friendship and your service are truly inspiring. This is not a goodbye, but a see you soon. Dear friend, we wish you all the best in your new responsibilities.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.