Luís Guillermo Vélez
Encyclopedia
Luis Guillermo Vélez Trujillo (June 17, 1943 – February 6, 2007) was a Colombian
lawyer, economist, and politician who served as Senator of Colombia
, ambassador of Colombia to El Salvador
and the Kingdom of Norway, and Minister Plenipotentiary of Colombia to the United States
.
, Antioquia where he also attended primary and secondary school in the Colegio de San Ignacio. He moved to Bogotá
to study at the Pontifical Xavierian University
where he graduated with a Doctorate
in Law and Economics.
He was appointed Ambassador
of Colombia to the Kingdom of Norway in 1980 by President Julio César Turbay Ayala
, post he occupied until 1983 when he was appointed Ambassador to El Salvador
where he participated in the crucial peace talks of the Contadora Group
. His diplomatic career reached its highest point as Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States
between 1988 and 1990 where he worked closely lobbying the US Congress to advance Colombian interests in passing the Andean Trade Preference Act.
and left lying in state
in the Senate. Afterwards his body was taken to the Primary Cathedral of Bogotá
for a state funeral
attended by his family, President Uribe Vélez, Senate President Dilian Francisca Toro
, ex President Ernesto Samper
and other congressmen and high officials. He was finally taken to the Jardines de Paz cemetery in northern Bogotá where his body was cremated.
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
lawyer, economist, and politician who served as Senator of Colombia
Senate of Colombia
The Senate of the Republic of Colombia is the upper house of the Congress of Colombia, with the lower house being the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia...
, ambassador of Colombia to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
and the Kingdom of Norway, and Minister Plenipotentiary of Colombia to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Life
Vélez Trujillo was born on June 17, 1943 in MedellínMedellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
, Antioquia where he also attended primary and secondary school in the Colegio de San Ignacio. He moved to Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
to study at the Pontifical Xavierian University
Pontifical Xavierian University
The Pontificia Universidad Javeriana is a private higher education institution founded in 1623. It is one of the oldest, most traditional, and prestigious Colombian universities, directed by the Society of Jesus, with its main facilities in Bogotá and a second campus in Cali...
where he graduated with a Doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Law and Economics.
He was appointed Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Colombia to the Kingdom of Norway in 1980 by President Julio César Turbay Ayala
Julio César Turbay Ayala
Julio César Turbay Ayala was a Colombian politician, member of the Colombian Liberal Party, elected president of the Senate of Colombia and and, was president of Colombia from 1978 to 1982.- Biographic data :...
, post he occupied until 1983 when he was appointed Ambassador to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
where he participated in the crucial peace talks of the Contadora Group
Contadora Group
The Contadora Group was an initiative launched in the early 1980s by the foreign ministers of Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela to deal with the military conflicts in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, which were threatening to destabilize the entire Central American region.The original...
. His diplomatic career reached its highest point as Minister Plenipotentiary to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
between 1988 and 1990 where he worked closely lobbying the US Congress to advance Colombian interests in passing the Andean Trade Preference Act.
Death
Luis Guillermo Vélez Trujillo died on February 6, 2007 at the Cardio Infantil Clinic in Bogotá after suffering a heart attack. His was body was taken to the Capitolio NacionalCapitolio Nacional
Capitolio Nacional is a building on Bolivar Square in central Bogotá, the construction of which began in 1876, by order of president Tomás Cipriano de Mosquera, and was not concluded until 1926. It houses both houses of the Congress of Colombia...
and left lying in state
Lying in state
Lying in state is a term used to describe the tradition in which a coffin is placed on view to allow the public at large to pay their respects to the deceased. It traditionally takes place in the principal government building of a country or city...
in the Senate. Afterwards his body was taken to the Primary Cathedral of Bogotá
Primary Cathedral of Bogotá
The Archbishopric Cathedral of Bogotá is a Roman Catholic cathedral located at the eastern side of Bolívar Square in Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. It is seat of the Archbishop of Bogotá, Cardinal Mon. Pedro Rubiano Saenz....
for a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
attended by his family, President Uribe Vélez, Senate President Dilian Francisca Toro
Dilian Francisca Toro
Dilian Francisca Toro Torres MD is a Colombian doctor and politician serving as Senator of Colombia. As Senator, Toro was elected President of the Congress of Colombia becoming only the second woman to do so.-Personal life:...
, ex President Ernesto Samper
Ernesto Samper
Ernesto Samper Pizano is a Colombian politician. He served as the President of Colombia from August 7, 1994 to August 7, 1998, representing the Liberal Party. He was involved in the 8000 process scandal, which takes its name from the folio number assigned to it by the chief prosecutor's office...
and other congressmen and high officials. He was finally taken to the Jardines de Paz cemetery in northern Bogotá where his body was cremated.