Don Guillermo Saenz de Tejada is a Guatemalan institution within the Guatemalan Ministry of Foreign Relations. His 50 years of civil service has been recognized with numerous awards. The most recent: "Order of the Quetzal in the Rank of Great Cross" in 2006.
Don Guillermo is still going strong at 86, he still sets the pace by showing up to work every single day and keeping the younger ones on their toes. He also is a passionate motorcyclist and nature lover. He was born in Guatemala City in November 1921. If anyone knows about Guatemalan history and its governments, Don Julio is probably a walking encyclopedia on those matters.
Here we are proud to present some of his accomplishments, there was a 20 page story, but we where not allowed to print that. He is too modest, it was reduced to 2 pages.
-
In and outside of Guatemala
- Worked as a lawyer for twelve years.
- Started working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Legal Advisor in 1955 and was enrolled in the Diplomatic Register as a diplomatic official on November 20, 1964.
- In December l968 he was given the status of Ambassador.
- He has held positions in the Foreign Office as Legal Advisor, Lawyer of the Legal Department, Sub-Director of Legal Affairs, Provisional Director of International Organisms, Director of Contracting and International Treaties and General Director of Legal Affairs, International Treaties and Translations.
- Has represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the Consulting Board of Civil Aviation for more than thirty years.
- Advisory Minister of the Embassy of Guatemala in the United States of America; Representative of Guatemala before the Council of the Organization of American States and before the Economic and Social Council; member of the Board of Directors of the Inter American Institute of Agricultural Sciences; delegate of Guatemala before the Board of Directors of the Latin American Coffee Agreement; delegate before the International Cotton Advisory Committee, etc.
- As a delegate, he has represented Guatemala in the negotiation of numerous international agreements:
- Cooperation Agreement for the Elimination of Maritime and Air Illicit Traffic of Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in the Caribbean, in San José (2003).
- Member of the delegation that represented the government of Guatemala in the Diplomatic Conference for the negotiation of the Cooperation Agreement for the Elimination of the Maritime and Air Illicit Traffic of Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in the Caribbean, in San José (2001).
- Member of the Guatemalan Delegation that negotiated an Agreement on the subject of the Converse Promotion and Protection of Investments between the governments of Guatemala and Germany (2001).
- Represented the government of Guatemala in the second consultation meeting of the Cooperation Agreement for the Elimination of the Maritime and Air Illicit Traffic of Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in the Caribbean, in Curacao (2000).
- Represented the government of Guatemala in the Editing Committee of the Agreement on International Movable, Commercial and Financial Warranties held in Miami, Florida (2000).
- He has been part of Guatemalan delegations before the Legal Committee of the Organization of American States, the Legal Committee of the Organization of International Civil Aviation, the Assembly of the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Organization of Central American States, the Organization of International Civil Aviation, etc.
- As a delegate of Guatemala, he has attended congresses and seminars and has participated in specific commissions, in Diplomatic Conferences on Public International Law and Private International Law, in International Meetings at a sub regional, regional and world level.
In addition, he has participated in the negotiation of numerous bilateral agreements:- Member of the Commission named to discuss the bilateral agreement on Civil Aviation between Guatemala and Venezuela (1991).
- Member of the delegation that represented the government of Guatemala in the discussion of a bilateral agreement on International Air Transportation between the governments of Guatemala and the United States of America (1991).
- Regular representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Civil Aviation Advisory Board.
- Representative of the government of Guatemala in the Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries of the United Nations regarding the establishment of an International Penal Court held in Rome (1998).
- Member of the delegation that represented the government of Guatemala in the XLVI Ordinary Period of Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations (1991).
- Member of the Guatemalan Delegation to the 29th Ordinary Period of Sessions of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (1999).
- Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Seminar on Community Law in the headquarters of the Central American Court of Lay in Managua (1997).
- Member of the Guatemalan Delegation that participated in the meeting about the Juridical and Administrative Reform of the Central American Integration System and the SICA General Secretariat held in San José (1997).
- Member of the delegation that represented the government of Guatemala in the XLVI Ordinary Period of Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations (1992).
Postgraduate studies
- Banking law: Course for postgraduates offered at University of San Carlos of Guatemala in 1967.
- Registry law: Course for postgraduates offered at University of San Carlos of Guatemala in 1970.
- Means to defend the Constitution: Course for postgraduates offered at the University of San Carlos in 1969.
- National Economy for officers: Course offered at the Center for the Development of Public Administration in 1962.
- Aeronautical Law: in Spain.
Memberships
- Active member of the Association of Lawyers and Notaries of Guatemala
- Regular member of the Iberoamerican Institute of Aerial, Space and Commercial Aviation Law
- Member of the Association of International law (Guatemalan branch)
Recognitions and Awards received
- From the Organization of American States, in recognition of services provided during the XVI Ordinary Period of Sessions of the General Assembly, November 1986.
- Diploma for his valuable participation in the Third Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central America, the European Community and the Contadora Group, Guatemala, February 10, 1987.
- Diploma from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for work performed for more than 20 years, August 22, 1991.
- Diploma from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for work performed for 50 years, September 22, 2005.
- Invested with the "Antonio José de Irisarri Order in the Rank of Great Cross" on December 19, 1988.
- Invested with the "Order of Merit from the Republic of Chile with the Rank of Great Cross" in August 2005.
- Invested with the "Order of the Quetzal in the Rank of Great Cross" in 2006.
