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Diego Cordovez, Envoy and Conflict Mediator, Dies at 78 Diego Cordovez, U.N. Envoy and Conflict Mediator, Dies at 78
(about 14 hours later)
Diego Cordovez, an Ecuadorean diplomat who, as a United Nations under secretary general, negotiated the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the 1980s, died on Saturday in Quito, Ecuador. He was 78.Diego Cordovez, an Ecuadorean diplomat who, as a United Nations under secretary general, negotiated the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the 1980s, died on Saturday in Quito, Ecuador. He was 78.
The cause was a heart attack, said his son, Diego.The cause was a heart attack, said his son, Diego.
Mr. Cordovez mediated many international conflicts, but he was particularly proud of his success in the Afghan effort — so much so that when he returned to Quito from talks in Geneva, he persuaded friends in the government to rename the street where he lived Afghanistan Street. He chose No. 88 for the building where he had a penthouse apartment to indicate the year the pullout deal was reached, 1988.Mr. Cordovez mediated many international conflicts, but he was particularly proud of his success in the Afghan effort — so much so that when he returned to Quito from talks in Geneva, he persuaded friends in the government to rename the street where he lived Afghanistan Street. He chose No. 88 for the building where he had a penthouse apartment to indicate the year the pullout deal was reached, 1988.
The accord came almost nine years after Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan to prop up its Marxist government and became mired in a guerrilla war against rebels backed by the United States. The conflict was costly and demoralizing to the Soviet Union and a factor in the collapse of its Communist government.The accord came almost nine years after Soviet forces invaded Afghanistan to prop up its Marxist government and became mired in a guerrilla war against rebels backed by the United States. The conflict was costly and demoralizing to the Soviet Union and a factor in the collapse of its Communist government.
Mr. Cordovez had a reputation as a tenacious and resourceful diplomat and negotiator who knew the value of humor in carrying out thorny international negotiations. During the seven years he spent in Geneva on the Afghanistan issue, he took to limping through the hallways of the vast Palais des Nations, where the talks were held, as a sign that the peace effort was still limping along, countering the belief of many that they had stalled.Mr. Cordovez had a reputation as a tenacious and resourceful diplomat and negotiator who knew the value of humor in carrying out thorny international negotiations. During the seven years he spent in Geneva on the Afghanistan issue, he took to limping through the hallways of the vast Palais des Nations, where the talks were held, as a sign that the peace effort was still limping along, countering the belief of many that they had stalled.
In describing his quest for a resolution in Afghanistan, The Economist magazine in 1988 called Mr. Cordovez “the world’s most patient man,” adding that his sense of humor and talent for mimicry had “defused many a tense moment.”In describing his quest for a resolution in Afghanistan, The Economist magazine in 1988 called Mr. Cordovez “the world’s most patient man,” adding that his sense of humor and talent for mimicry had “defused many a tense moment.”
His son said that Mr. Cordovez would do impressions of the famous and powerful people he encountered — Fidel Castro, Boris Yeltsin and Muammar el-Qaddafi, among them — and sometimes in front of them.His son said that Mr. Cordovez would do impressions of the famous and powerful people he encountered — Fidel Castro, Boris Yeltsin and Muammar el-Qaddafi, among them — and sometimes in front of them.
“He would make fun of them and kind of very quickly create a very warm atmosphere, a disarming atmosphere, and that allowed him to break through typical formalities and suspicions,” his son said.“He would make fun of them and kind of very quickly create a very warm atmosphere, a disarming atmosphere, and that allowed him to break through typical formalities and suspicions,” his son said.
Diego Cordovez Zegers was born into a wealthy family in Quito on Nov. 3, 1935. He lived a life of luxury in his family’s mansion in the capital and in its large ranch nearby. He never lost his taste for the good life, including fine French wine, Cuban cigars and Savile Row tailored suits.Diego Cordovez Zegers was born into a wealthy family in Quito on Nov. 3, 1935. He lived a life of luxury in his family’s mansion in the capital and in its large ranch nearby. He never lost his taste for the good life, including fine French wine, Cuban cigars and Savile Row tailored suits.
He was sent to a prep school in Santiago, Chile, and later attended the University of Chile, obtaining a law degree.He was sent to a prep school in Santiago, Chile, and later attended the University of Chile, obtaining a law degree.
In 1960 Mr. Cordovez married María Teresa Somavia. About two years later, the couple moved to New York, where he began his career at the United Nations. He told his son that he had been caught up in the idealism and hope inspired by President John F. Kennedy. He even kept a portrait of Mr. Kennedy in his office in Quito.In 1960 Mr. Cordovez married María Teresa Somavia. About two years later, the couple moved to New York, where he began his career at the United Nations. He told his son that he had been caught up in the idealism and hope inspired by President John F. Kennedy. He even kept a portrait of Mr. Kennedy in his office in Quito.
As a negotiator Mr. Cordovez was also involved in efforts to win the release of the American hostages in Iran, a crisis resolved in 1981, and to end the war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s. He was the United Nations under secretary general for special political affairs from 1981 to 1988.As a negotiator Mr. Cordovez was also involved in efforts to win the release of the American hostages in Iran, a crisis resolved in 1981, and to end the war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s. He was the United Nations under secretary general for special political affairs from 1981 to 1988.
He returned to Ecuador to serve as foreign minister from 1988 to 1992, and he was Ecuador’s ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2007. He taught at Columbia University in the 1990s.He returned to Ecuador to serve as foreign minister from 1988 to 1992, and he was Ecuador’s ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2007. He taught at Columbia University in the 1990s.
Mr. Cordovez’s wife died in 2003. His son, a professional poker player who lives in Las Vegas, is his only immediate survivor. Mr. Cordovez lived for many years on East 56th Street in Manhattan and later moved to 2 Sutton Place, across the street from the residence of the United Nations secretary general. His son said he would kid him about the location.Mr. Cordovez’s wife died in 2003. His son, a professional poker player who lives in Las Vegas, is his only immediate survivor. Mr. Cordovez lived for many years on East 56th Street in Manhattan and later moved to 2 Sutton Place, across the street from the residence of the United Nations secretary general. His son said he would kid him about the location.
“That was as close as he got to secretary general,” he said. “He almost made it.”“That was as close as he got to secretary general,” he said. “He almost made it.”