Almagro denies having flouted OAS regulations

Secretary General Luis Almagro denied that he had violated the code of ethics of the Organization of American States (OAS) after learning that faces an internal investigation for having maintained a relationship with an assistant, as revealed The Associated Press.

After the closing of the general assembly On Friday in Lima, the Uruguayan diplomat stressed that he is calm and that he will provide his defenses when required.

“My team and I are very calm because we have always taken the appropriate measures to ensure that no situation contravenes the rules of the organization,” he said.

Almagro maintained that he “directly received an anonymous complaint regarding a possible violation of the OAS code of ethics and work.” The general secretary stated that the inspector will have independence and autonomy when it comes to investigating whether an infraction of the institution’s rules really occurred.

“I am going to be the least informed person in this process, because I am not going to participate in any phase of it, I will wait for the summons that the inspector general has to make to me for questioning or to contribute in any phase of the investigation,” he commented.

Finally, Almagro added that he was never “supervisor of any person” with whom “he had a relationship.” “I never promoted her or increased her salary in any way that is the special conditions established in the code of work ethics,” he noted.

The controversy surrounding the OAS Secretary General It was revealed hours before the end of the general assembly in Lima. According to what was reported APAlmagro would have had a relationship with a Mexican who is 30 years younger.

As evidence of the aforementioned medium are the testimonies of three employees of the forum who report that they saw Almagro kissing with the assistant after the 2019 assembly that took place in Colombia. In addition, they assured that they saw the diplomat taken in the manner of the mysterious woman who remains unidentified in his office.

If these faults are proven, the consequences for Almagro would be severe. The OAS Code of Ethics says that a staff member must not maintain an intimate relationship with a colleague in a way that “interferes with the performance of their duties or disadvantages others in the Workplace.”

Weeks ago, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) decided to dismiss Mauricio Claver-Carone, candidate chosen by former President Donald Trump, after similar complaints were filed against him for allegedly having supported one of his workers. In this situation, Almagro could meet the same fate at the OAS.

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