Secretary General of UNASUR

Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations
Incumbent María Emma Mejía Vélez since 2011
Term length	2 years
Inaugural holder	Néstor Kirchner
Formation	2010
Website	www.unasursg.org (Spanish)

Union of South American Nations

Economy Bank of the South Mercosur Andean Community Amazon Coop Treaty

Politics Secretary General Presidency Parliament

Infrastructure IIRSA Interoceanic Highway

The Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations is the legal representative of the Secretariat of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

Contents 1 History 2 Function 3 List of Secretaries-General 4 References 5 External links

History

The position was established by the UNASUR Constitutive Treaty and the first Secretary General was designated on 4 May 2010.

Function

The Secretary General of UNASUR is proposed by the Foreign Ministers council, and designated by the Heads of State and Government council^[1] for a two-year term, renewable once.^[2] A Secretary General cannot be of the same nationality in succession.

The Secretary General exercises the legal representation of the UNASUR Secretariat. The officials selection for the latter requires an equitative representation between UNASUR Member States. It also requires an equitative representation, as much as possible, along gender, language and ethnic criteria.^[1] The tasks of the Secretary General are:^[1]

• Helping the Heads of State council, the Foreign Ministers council, the Delegates council, and the Pro Tempore President, in the accomplishment of their tasks.

• Proposing initiatives and monitoring the adequate functioning of the UNASUR organizations.

• Composing and presenting the Annual Memory, and respective reports, to UNASUR organizations meetings.

• Serving as the legal depositary of UNASUR Agreements, and allowing its publication.

• Composing the annual budget for the Delegates Council consideration, and adopting measures for good management and administration, as needed.

• Projecting reglamentations for the Secretariat, and submitting them to the pertaining bodies for consideration and approval.

• Coordinating the labor bestowed on it by UNASUR organizations along with other Latin American and the Caribbean integration and cooperation entities.

• Executing, according to reglamentations, every necessary legal action for the good management and administration of the Secretariat.

List of Secretaries-General

	Secretary General	Photo	State	Political party	Occupation	Took office	Left office
1.	Néstor Carlos Kirchner		Argentina	PJ	Lawyer	4 May 2010	27 October 2010
	Vacant				27 October 2010	2011
2.	María Emma Mejía Vélez		Colombia	PDA	Journalist	2011	Incumbent

References

External links

• Official site

Union of South American Nations Member states Argentina · Bolivia · Brazil · Chile · Colombia · Ecuador · Guyana · Paraguay · Peru · Suriname · Uruguay · Venezuela Summits 2004 South American Summit · 2008 South American Summit · 2009 South American Summit · 2010 South American Summit  · 2011 South American Summit Topics Cusco Declaration · Constitutive Treaty · President Pro Tempore · Secretary General · Bank of the South · South American Parliament · Initiative for Infrastructure Integration of South America · Mercosur · Andean Community