MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Former Uruguayan Defence minister honoured by US Centre for Defence Studies

Jose Bayardi to receive the same Perry Award as former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe

The United States Centre for Hemispheric Defence Studies (CHDS) has selected U.S. Army Gen. John Galvin and former Uruguayan Defence Minister Dr. José Bayardi in the individual category and the Mexican Centre for Superior Naval Studies (CESNAV) in the institutional category for the 2010 William J. Perry Award for Excellence in Security and Defence Education.

In announcing the selection on Tuesday, CHDS Director Richard D. Downie praised both the awardees as well as the record number of people and institutions from around the Western Hemisphere who were nominated this year for a Perry Award, named after the former U.S. Secretary of Defence whose inspiration resulted in the creation of the Centre.

“Interest in the Perry Award reflects the fact that these selections truly recognize significant academic and/or policy contributions in this Hemisphere,” Downie said.

“We are deeply honoured that in 2010 we are able to offer the award to two enormously distinguished individuals and an outstanding educational institution, CESNAV—whose hallmarks has been the promotion of education, research, outreach and knowledge-sharing in defence and security issues in the Western Hemisphere.

“In their own ways, the work of Gen. Galvin, former Minister Bayardi and CESNAV has led to greater international security cooperation, enhanced effective civil-military relations, and adherence to CHDS core values.”

Downie praised the work of former Defence Minister Bayardi, a CHDS graduate and now a Uruguayan senator, whose tenure as defence minister in Uruguay entailed a key role in international peacekeeping efforts in Haiti and the Congo. Bayardi was also an important figure in his country’s debate over human rights and in the Uruguayan armed forces reorganization for the 21st century.

The Centre director said he also took great pride in the fact that Galvin, a former commander at SOUTHCOM and a former dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, was a 2010 choice.

“As the Commander-in-chief of the U.S. Southern Command and later as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander in Chief of the U.S. European Command John Galvin brought great regional understanding, and leadership, serving as a beacon and an inspiration for those who have served in Latin America.”

Downie pointed to the key role played by CESNAV (known in Spanish as the Centro de Estudios Superiores Navales) in helping the Mexican government confront some of the greatest threats in its history.

CESNAV, he said, “makes extraordinary contributions every day toward advancing the cause of democracy and the rule of law within some of the thorniest terrain in the defense and security arenas. Clearly their success has been key to beating back some of the greatest threats faced not only in their country, but in the region as a whole—including the United States.”

The second annual Perry Awards were given to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez in the individual category and the Chilean National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies (Academia Nacional de Estudios Politicos y Estratégicos/ANEPE) in the institutional category.