MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

United Nations, OAS and IMF leaders praise the former president

IMF Director General Strauss-Kahn

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated he was “sorry to hear Néstor Kirchner had died so prematurely.” The UN leader placed strong emphasis on Kirchner's “relevant role for multilateralism.”

“Kirchner was a friend of the United Nations as well as a national and international leader who strongly believed in multilateralism,” Ban said. He expressed his “sincere condolences” and “respect to the family of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the Argentine people and the Argentine government.”

OAS Secretary-General José Miguel Insulza also sent his condolences to President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner highlighting the political work developed by his husband.

“Kirchner will always be remembered as the Argentine president who conducted the country along a road of economical growth and political stability as well as for his commitment with Latin America's peace and integration,” he said.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Director General, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, highlighted former President Néstor Kirchner's role in Argentina's economic recovery after the 2001 financial crisis.

Via a communiqué, Strauss-Kahn sent his “most heart-felt condolences” on behalf of the IMF to “President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, her family, and the Argentine people.”

“During his term as president, Kirchner led Argentina through a period of great economic recovery in the throes of the 2001 financial crisis,” the IMF director general said.

Strauss-Kahn added that, in the last few years, the former president actively participated in the “political life” of his country and “served the region” as Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Secretary General.