António Mascarenhas Monteiro
Encyclopedia
António Manuel Mascarenhas Gomes Monteiro (ɐ̃ˈtɔniu mɐnuˈɛl mɐʃkɐˈɾeɲɐʒ ˈɡomɨʒ mõˈtejɾu; born February 16, 1944 in Santa Catarina, Cape Verde
) was the President of Cape Verde from March 22, 1991 to March 22, 2001.
and graduated with his law degree from the Catholic University of Leuven
. He worked at the Center of Public Law in Leuven until moving back to Cape Verde in 1977.
, he was the first president elected in a multi-party election in the country, defeating Aristides Pereira
in the February 1991 presidential election
. He was re-elected without opposition in 1996, receiving 80% of the vote. After serving two five year terms, he stepped down in 2001; in the 2001 election, Movement for Democracy candidate Carlos Veiga
, who had served as Prime Minister under Monteiro, was defeated by Pedro Pires
of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde
(PAICV).
mission in East Timor
. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20495322-2703,00.html The appointment was criticised in East Timor, partly because Monteiro had a poor knowledge of English. http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/east-timor-shock-as-new-un-chief-changes-his-mind/2006/09/28/1159337281192.html It was reported that Timorese president Xanana Gusmão
was among those who expressed their concern about the appointment. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20495322-2703,00.html
On 25 September, Monteiro announced that he had changed his mind and would not be accepting the position. He told journalists that "I told the Deputy Secretary-General
that I already knew that there were reservations about my name on the part of parties engaged in East Timor and that I was no longer interested in serving there." http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=475654 He explained that "the functions of a representative of the UN Secretary-General in East Timor are very broad and must be exercised with the goodwill of all parties involved." http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/timor-un-mission-head-leaves-before-he-arrives/2006/09/28/1159337281684.html Therefore, "it is better to stand down now than to create problems later on, especially in view of the complexity of the situation in East Timor." http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/timor-un-mission-head-leaves-before-he-arrives/2006/09/28/1159337281684.html
, an organization which works to promote good governance around the world.
Santa Catarina, Cape Verde
Santa Catarina is a municipality located in the northwestern and the western parts of the island of Santiago in Sotavento in Cape Verde. The municipal population is around 49,829, the area is 243 km² and the density is about 205/km². The seat of the municipality is Assomada...
) was the President of Cape Verde from March 22, 1991 to March 22, 2001.
Education
Monteiro went to university in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and graduated with his law degree from the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
. He worked at the Center of Public Law in Leuven until moving back to Cape Verde in 1977.
Presidency of Cape Verde
Affiliated with the Movement for DemocracyMovement for Democracy (Cape Verde)
The Movimento para a Democracia is a ideological liberal party in Cape Verde. It was in power between 1991 and 2001. MPD was created on March 14, 1990, and their first convention was held in November 1990. They won the first elections after the end of the one-party system in Cape Verde, with more...
, he was the first president elected in a multi-party election in the country, defeating Aristides Pereira
Aristides Pereira
Aristides Maria Pereira was the first President of Cape Verde, serving from 1975 to 1991.-Biography:Pereira was born on the island of Boa Vista. His first major government job was chief of telecommunications in Guinea-Bissau...
in the February 1991 presidential election
Cape Verdean presidential election, 1991
Presidential elections were held for the first time in Cape Verde on 17 February 1991, as previously the National Assembly had elected the President. The result was a victory for António Mascarenhas Monteiro of the Movement for Democracy, which had also won the parliamentary elections the previous...
. He was re-elected without opposition in 1996, receiving 80% of the vote. After serving two five year terms, he stepped down in 2001; in the 2001 election, Movement for Democracy candidate Carlos Veiga
Carlos Veiga
Carlos Alberto Wahnon de Carvalho Veiga is a Cape Verdean politician. He was Prime Minister of Cape Verde from April 4, 1991 to July 29, 2000, and he unsuccessfully ran for President as the candidate of the Movement for Democracy in 2001 and 2006....
, who had served as Prime Minister under Monteiro, was defeated by Pedro Pires
Pedro Pires
Pedro Verona Rodrigues Pires was the President of Cape Verde from March 2001 to September 2011. Before becoming President, he was Prime Minister from 1975 to 1991....
of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde
African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde
The African Party of Independence of Cape Verde is a former socialist party and presently a social-democratic political party in Cape Verde. Its members are nicknamed “os tambarinas” in Portuguese , and they identify themselves with the color yellow.-Forerunner:In 1956, its forerunner, the African...
(PAICV).
East Timor controversy
On 19 September 2006, it was announced that Monteiro would succeed Sukehiro Hasegawa as head of the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
mission in East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20495322-2703,00.html The appointment was criticised in East Timor, partly because Monteiro had a poor knowledge of English. http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/east-timor-shock-as-new-un-chief-changes-his-mind/2006/09/28/1159337281192.html It was reported that Timorese president Xanana Gusmão
Xanana Gusmão
Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão GCL is a former militant who was the first President of East Timor, serving from May 2002 to May 2007...
was among those who expressed their concern about the appointment. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20495322-2703,00.html
On 25 September, Monteiro announced that he had changed his mind and would not be accepting the position. He told journalists that "I told the Deputy Secretary-General
United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations is an office created to handle many of the administrative responsibilities, help manage Secretariat operations, and ensure coherence of activities and programmes. The post was formally established by the General Assembly at the end of 1997...
that I already knew that there were reservations about my name on the part of parties engaged in East Timor and that I was no longer interested in serving there." http://www.angolapress-angop.ao/noticia-e.asp?ID=475654 He explained that "the functions of a representative of the UN Secretary-General in East Timor are very broad and must be exercised with the goodwill of all parties involved." http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/timor-un-mission-head-leaves-before-he-arrives/2006/09/28/1159337281684.html Therefore, "it is better to stand down now than to create problems later on, especially in view of the complexity of the situation in East Timor." http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/timor-un-mission-head-leaves-before-he-arrives/2006/09/28/1159337281684.html
Memberships and Awards
Monteiro is a Member of the Global Leadership FoundationGlobal Leadership Foundation
The Global Leadership Foundation is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in 2004 by former State President of South Africa and Nobel Prize laureate F.W. de Klerk....
, an organization which works to promote good governance around the world.