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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday praised late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as "one of those leaders who made a difference in his country, the region and the world."
Addressing a General Assembly plenary meeting held here to pay tribute to the memory of the late President of Venezuela, Ban said, "Basing himself on an eminently Latin American vision, President Chavez provided decisive impetus for new efforts towards regional integration."
Perhaps most notably, the UN chief said, Chavez ensured that Venezuela provided crucial assistance to Haiti following the devastating earthquake of 2010. "He always reminded the region of the historic debt that it owed to Haiti, the first republic to gain independence in Latin America and the Caribbean."
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) observes a moment of silence during a tribute to the memory of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 13, 2013. (Xinhua/Niu Xiaolei)
Ban also recognized Chavez's contribution to the peace talks in Colombia between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), as well as the "solidarity" he showed toward other nations in the hemisphere.
"As the process of regional integration progresses, the key role that President Chavez has had in promoting the unity of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean will be present in everyone's minds," said the Secretary-General.
"But perhaps President Chavez will be best remembered for his ability to connect at a human level with the most vulnerable and give voice to their aspirations," he said.
Ban also recalled Chavez's message when the late Venezuelan president first addressed the General Assembly in 1999, saying "On that occasion, he stated his wish that one day in the near future it would be possible to proclaim that peace, democracy and development have triumphed."
Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President Vuk Jeremic also said "On behalf of the General Assembly and in my own name, allow me to offer my deepest condolences to his bereaved family and friends, the government and people of Venezuela, as well as to his many admirers throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, and the rest of the world."
"History will remember President Chavez, a charismatic leader whose progressive policies brought Venezuela's poverty rate down from over 70 percent at the close of the 20th century to around 20 percent today," he said.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (L) and Vuk Jeremic (C), president of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly, observe a moment of silence during a tribute to the memory of late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, at the UN headquarters in New York, on March 13, 2013. (Xinhua/Niu Xiaolei)
He lauded the commitment of Chavez to the cause of social justice, saying that Chavez had been working hard to improve the lives of Venezuelans, especially the most underprivileged amongst them.
"Under his strong leadership, Venezuela made great strides towards fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals, to the lasting benefit of a great and proud nation," Jeremic said.
The former Serbian foreign minister recalled Chavez's "humble beginning," noting that this helped him "better understand and feel the pain and privations of ordinary Venezuelans."
Jeremic also eulogized Chavez as "a vocal advocate of the Global South," "a firm believer in the potential of the Non- Aligned Movement and the G-77 to help uplift the developing world, " and "a driving force behind efforts to deepen Latin American and Caribbean integration."
In addition, Jeremic renewed his commitment to deepen the relationship between Venezuela and the UNGA with the aim of strengthening the founding principles of the United Nations.
Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's president since February 1999, died on March 5 at the age of 58 after a two-year battle with cancer which was first detected in his pelvis. The State Funeral for him was held in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, on March 8.
