Annan mourns former UN Assembly President and long-time Spanish Ambassador

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today mourned the death of Ambassador Jaime de Pinies, a veteran diplomat from Spain and former President of the United Nations General Assembly.

In addition to presiding, with distinction, over the 1985 Assembly, Ambassador de Pinies represented his country at 28 of the body’s annual sessions and served as Spain’s Permanent Representative to the UN for 16 years.

“Throughout his career, he displayed exceptional devotion to the work and principles of the United Nations,” a spokesman for the Secretary-General said in a statement, which also conveyed condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ambassador de Pinies.

The 86-year old diplomat was married and had two children.