On the morning of this Monday, May 5, the death of Lino Gutiérrez was confirmed, who served as United States Ambassador to Argentina Between 2003 and 2006. The 74 -year -old diplomat died in Alexandria, Virginiawhere he lived after his retirement from the foreign service.
Throughout his career, Gutiérrez accumulated an extensive career within the United States Foreign Servicewith outstanding assignments that included their work as an ambassador to Nicaragua and its function as Deputy Secretary main in the Office of Affairs of the Western Hemisphere.
In 2003, the US President George Bush He confirmed the diplomat as the ambassador of his country in Argentina, replacing James Walsh. Previously, he served as a temporary head of the Auxiliary Secretariat for the affairs of the Western Hemisphere in the State Department, a position he had assumed on June 4, 2001, after having directed for two years the Secretariat of Assistance of that same government agency.
He had an active diplomatic participation in the American landing of 1983 to the Caribbean Republic of Granada, which was conducted by a dictatorship. And he spent three years in Paris (from 1987 to 1990), in charge of the political unit of the Embassy in France. The next three years passed them in the Bahamas and in 1994 he returned to his country to perform at the Office of Inter -American Affairs, as Planning Director.
Gutierrez is remembered for his role in a critical period for Argentinawhere he served at a key moment in the political history of the country. during his term, the diplomat worked to consolidate a solid bilateral relationship between the two countries, with special emphasis on regional security issues, including the fight against terrorism and the drug trafficking. In addition, he promoted the creation of a Institutional Democratic System robust and resilient, based on a Active civil society and one Free and strong presskey elements in his vision for the future of Argentina.
In a Message posted on Twitterthe Business Manager of the United States Embassy in Argentina, Abigail L. Dressel, He expressed his deep sadness for his death. “With deep sadness I share the news of the death of Lino Gutiérrez, US ambassador to Argentina between 2003 and 2006. Ambassador Gutiérrez worked tirelessly for strengthening the bilateral relationship and contributing to the development of democracy and more solid and resilient institutions in Argentina,” said the official account of the embassy. Gutierrez’s diplomacy, as stood out in the same message, was decisive to advance in strengthening ties between both countries for key years of Argentine politics.
Gutierrez was born in Havana, Cubain 1951, and moved with his family to USA In 1959, after his parents decided to flee the Fidel Castro regime. Your family first settled in Colombiaand then settle in Tuscaloosa, Alabamawhere he graduated in the University of Alabama. Throughout his life, Gutierrez was a fervent follower of the Alabama Crimson Tide and of Los Angeles Dodgersteams to which he showed his unconditional support.
Gutiérrez had an active diplomatic participation in the US invasion of 1983 to the Caribbean Republic of Granada. And he spent three years in Paris (from 1987 to 1990), in charge of the political unit of the Embassy in France. The next three years passed them in the Bahamas and in 1994 he returned to his country to perform at the Office of Inter -American Affairs, as Planning Director.
The former ambassador was accompanied by his wife, Miriam Messinaoriginally from Santo Domingo, and his daughters, Alicia Dunlap, Diana Cosgrove y Susana Gutiérrezwho survive him, along with his grandchildren.
In Argentina, Gutiérrez left a remarkable mark, not only for his contributions to the foreign policy of the United States, but also for his commitment to strengthening democratic institutions In the country, something that, according to his own colleagues, was one of his most appreciated and relevant objectives during his time in office.
