Gustavo Bell
| Gustavo Adolfo Bell Lemus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Colombia Ambassador to Cuba | |
|
Assumed office March 7, 2011 | |
| President | Juan Manuel Santos Calderón |
| Preceded by | Julio Londoño Paredes |
| 7th Vice President of Colombia | |
|
In office August 7, 1998 – August 7, 2002 | |
| President | Andrés Pastrana Arango |
| Preceded by | Carlos Lemos Simmonds |
| Succeeded by | Francisco Santos Calderón |
| Colombian Minister of National Defence | |
|
In office June 11, 2001 – August 7, 2002 | |
| President | Andrés Pastrana Arango |
| Preceded by | Luis Fernando Ramírez Acuña |
| Succeeded by | Marta Lucía Ramírez |
| 53rd Governor of Atlántico | |
|
In office January 1, 1992 – December 31, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Arnold Gómez Mendoza |
| Succeeded by | Nelson Polo Hernández |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 1, 1957 Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | María Mercedes de la Espriella |
| Children | María Alexandra Bell de la Espriella |
| Alma mater |
Pontifical Xavierian University (LLB, MSc) St Antony's College, Oxford (PhD) |
| Profession | Lawyer, Economist, Historian |
Gustavo Adolfo Bell Lemus (born February 1, 1957) is the current Ambassador of Colombia to Cuba. A lawyer, economist and historian, he served as the seventh Vice President of Colombia between 1998 and 2002 under the administration of Andrés Pastrana Arango, during which time he also served concurrently as High Commissioner for Human Rights of Colombia and as Minister of National Defence between 2001 and 2002. In 1992, as the 53rd Governor of Atlántico, he became the first popularly elected Governor of the Department following the enactment of the 1991 Colombian Constitution.
Career
Education
Bell attended the Pontifical Xavierian University where he obtained a double degree in Laws and Socioeconomics. He completed graduate studies at the University of the Andes on a Constitutional Bicentenary scholarship from the Bank of the Republic [Colombia], the Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos at Seville on a research scholarship from Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and St Antony's College, Oxford on a British Council scholarship, where he also obtained a Ph.D in Modern History.[1]
In addition to his academic studies, Bell was one of the founding members and part of the faculty of the University of the North in Barranquilla.
Journalism
Bell began his work in journalism in El Heraldo, and quickly rose to become one of the most influential journalist in northern Colombia. While working as Executive Editor of El Heraldo, Bell suffered an assassination attempt but escaped unharmed.
Governorship
In 1991 Bell run for governor of the Atlántico Department as an independent candidate, he became the first elected governor by popular vote of this Department for the period between 1992-1994. (governors in Colombia were appointed by the President before the constitution of 1991)
Vice Presidency (1998-2002)
After spending three years studying in England Bell returned to Colombia in 1997 and joined the presidential campaign of Andrés Pastrana. Pastrana offered him the Vice Presidency of Colombia, They were elected for the 1998-2002 presidential period.
Vice President Bell was in charge of the Colombian Office for Human Rights issues between 1998 and 2001, year in which President Pastrana also appointed him the Ministry of National Defence.
Ambassadorship
On October 29, 2010, President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón designated Bell to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Colombia to the Republic of Cuba stating "I think better ambassador to Cuba would not be found. We want to maintain a special relationship with Cuba and therefore we will send an ambassador of high carat, as Dr. Bell".[2] On March 7, 2011, Bell was sworn in by President Santos on as Ambassador to Cuba in a ceremony at the Palace of Nariño.[3]
Personal life
Bell was married to María Mercedes De La Espriella and has one daughter named María Alexandra.
References
- ↑ "Perfiles de los nueve integrantes de la Misión de Política Exterior" [Profiles of the nine members of the Foreign Policy Council] (in Spanish). Bogotá: Press Office of the Presidency of Colombia (SP). 2008-12-09. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
- ↑ Santos Calderón, Juan Manuel (2010-10-29). "Gustavo Bell Lemus designado Embajador en Cuba" [Gustavo Bell designated Ambassador in Cuba] (in Spanish). Press Office of the Presidency of Colombia (SIG). Retrieved 2011-04-15.
- ↑ "Presidente Santos posesionó a Gustavo Bell Lemus como nuevo Embajador de Colombia en Cuba" [President Santos sworn in Gustavo Bell Lemus as the new Ambassador of Colombia in Cuba] (in Spanish). Press Office of the Presidency of Colombia (SIG). 2011-03-07. Retrieved 2011-04-15.
- people daily - Gustavo Bell
- medios para la paz - Atentado contra la vida de Gustavo Bell
- El Heraldo - MARIA MERCEDES De La Espriella de Bell
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Carlos Lemos Simmonds |
Vice President of Colombia August 7, 1998–August 7, 2002 |
Succeeded by Francisco Santos Calderón |