1. Carlos Westendorp y Cabeza was born on 7 January 1937 and is a Spanish diplomat and former politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1996.
11 Facts About Carlos Westendorp
1. 2.
Carlos Westendorp served as High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, succeeding Carl Bildt and was tasked with upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement from 1997 to 1999.
3.
Carlos Westendorp chaired the Committee of Permanent Representatives during the first Spanish Presidency of the EEC in 1989.
4.
Carlos Westendorp was centrally involved in the Spanish Presidency of the EU in 1995, which coincided with the adoption of the Euro, the launching of the Barcelona process and the signing of the transatlantic agenda.
5.
Carlos Westendorp's first act with these new powers was laws on citizenship, and later imposed a new flag and national anthem.
6.
Carlos Westendorp was involved in removing Nikola Poplasen from power despite Poplasen being elected president.
7.
Carlos Westendorp served as Chairman of the Parliament's Committee on Industry, Trade, Energy and Research until 2003.
8.
Carlos Westendorp was co-founder and executive vice-president of the Toledo Center for Peace and is a member of its board.
9.
Carlos Westendorp is currently the principal advisor to Felipe Gonzalez, Chairman of the Reflection Group established by the EU Heads of State and Government to assist the European Union to anticipate and meet the challenges facing in the period 2020 to 2030.
10.
Carlos Westendorp has addressed conferences and lectures and has written articles and books mostly on European Affairs, for which he was awarded the Salvador de Madariaga Prize of Journalism.
11.
Carlos Westendorp has been awarded various Spanish and foreign decorations, including the Great Cross of the Order of Charles III and Officier de la Legion d'Honneur.