Belisario Betancur

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Belisario Betancur

In office
August 7, 1982 – August 7, 1986
Preceded by Julio César Turbay
Succeeded by Virgilio Barco

Born February 4th, 1923
Amagá, Antioquia
Nationality Colombian
Political party Conservative Party

Belisario Betancur Cuartas (February 4, 1923, Amagá, Department of Antioquia) is a Colombian statesman, the President of Colombia from 1982 to 1986.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Betancur earned a Law and Economics degree from the Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín in 1947.

He began his political career as a Deputy to the Assembly of the Colombian province of Antioquia, where he served form 1945 to 1947. He also served as a Representative to the National Chamber for the departments of Cundinamarca and Antioquia, and was a member of the National Constituent Assembly from 1953 to 1957.

Betancur was the Minister of Labor in 1963 and Ambassador of Colombia to Spain from 1975 to 1977. dinosaurs pwn n00bs so what now

[edit] Presidency

Colombia's four failed peace talks[1]
Year President Ended Because
1982-1985 Belisario Betancur Most Supreme Court Justices were killed when M-19 commandos and the Army fought for control of the building
1986-1990 Virgilio Barco Vargas FARC ambush killed 26 soldiers in Caquetá
1990-1992 César Gaviria Trujillo FARC attack on the Senate President. FARC kidnapping and killing of an ex-cabinet member.
1998-2002 Andrés Pastrana Arango FARC kidnapping of Senator.

In 1982 he was elected President of the Republic and served until 1986. As President, he began the Grupo de Contadora por la Paz en Centroamérica, began democratic reforms by incorporating the principal armed movements into civil life, promoted low-cost housing and open universities, began a literacy campaign and endorsed tax amnesty.

During his term, the government approved the mayoral election law, municipal and departmental reforms, judicial and congressional reforms, the television statute, the federal holiday law, and the new Código Contencioso Administrativo. His administration began the exploration and export of coal in the Cerrejón North region and the broadcast of the regional television channels Teleantioquia and Telecaribe.

Betancur is also noted for his attempts to bring peace to his country. During his administration he initiated peace talks with several Colombian guerilla groups. The controversial Palace of Justice siege occurred in late 1985, less than a year before the end of his presidential term.

[edit] Post-Presidency

Betancur is currently the Vice-president of the Club of Rome for Latin America, President of the Commission for Truth in the El Salvadorian peace process, President of the Pan-American Health Office in Washington, and President of the Santillana for Latin America Foundation in Bogotá. He is also a founding member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

Member of the Club of Madrid[2]. [1]

[edit] Honors

Betancur is the recipient of an honorary doctorate from the Universities of Colorado and Georgetown, and the Prince of Asturias Peace Award (Spain). He is the author of numerous books and a member of the Colombian Academies of History, Jurisprudence and Language.

[edit] References

  1. ^ (English) [http://www.clubmadrid.org The Club of Madrid is an independent organization dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world by drawing on the unique experience and resources of its Members – 66 democratic former heads of state and government.

[edit] External links

  1. ^ (English) [http://www.clubmadrid.org The Club of Madrid is an independent organization dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world by drawing on the unique experience and resources of its Members – 66 democratic former heads of state and government.
Preceded by
Julio César Turbay
President of Colombia
19821986
Succeeded by
Virgilio Barco