Juan Luis Guerra Becomes First Dominican Named “Artist for Peace” by UNESCO

The United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) awarded Juan Luis Guerra with the title “Artist for Peace,” making him the first Dominican, and first Caribbean, to receive this distinction from the international organization.

“This distinction has been placed in good hands,” said Mr. García Fernández as he noted that Guerra is the first Dominican, “in fact, the first person in the Caribbean to receive this distinction from UNESCO.”

The award was bestowed on Mr. Guerra by the Director General of UNESCO, Koichiro Matsuura, in a ceremony held at the organization´s headquarters and presided over by Dominican Tourism Minister Francisco Javier García. Others present included Laura Faxas, Dominican Ambassador to UNESCO; Dominican Ambassador to France Guillermo Piña Contreras and Deputy Minister of Culture, Avelino Stanley, among other members of the Dominican diplomatic corps in this city.

Before a group of hundreds of Dominicans residing in Paris as well as invited guests from UNESCO, the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office (OPT) and the Ministry of Culture, the Dominican singer said, “I am a Guerra who loves peace,” he said in a word play with his own last name “Guerra” which means “war” in English. Guerra expressed his appreciation to UNESCO for the honor.

Tourism Minister, Francisco Javier García, said the recognition of Guerra was a memorable accomplishment for the country, and thanked UNESCO in the name of President Leonel Fernández and the people of the Dominican Republic.

“This distinction has been placed in good hands,” said Mr. García Fernández as he noted that Guerra is the first Dominican, “in fact, the first person in the Caribbean to receive this distinction from UNESCO.”

The Dominican Tourism Minister talked about Juan Luis Guerra´s life´s work, his education and his musical career which he said fills Dominicans with pride to be able to say they have such a successful and talented singer/composer from their country.

Prior to the ceremony, Matsuura met privately in his office with Guerra and García Fernández and the delegation that accompanied them.

At this private meeting, the Tourism Minister once again thanked UNESCO for bestowing this distinction on Juan Luis Guerra, adding that “he faithfully interprets the sentiment of the Dominican people: they are lovers of peace.”

During the conversation in Matsuura´s office, García Fernández invited the UNESCO chief to visit the Dominican Republic. Mr. Matsuura said he would gladly accept the invitation and that he hadn´t been in the DR since March 2004

10 Years of the OPT in Paris

This Wednesday, Juan Luis Guerra will perform at the Olympia Theater in the center of Paris to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Dominican Tourism Promotion Office (OPT) in France.

The musical event will host a group of some 2,000 people made up of tour operators, travel agents, investors and the media, among others.

The concert is being sponsored by Marsans and Air France.

Avelino Stanley, Laura Faxas, Juan Luis Guerra, Koichiro Matsuura, César José de los Santos and Gabriel Rodríguez.

Koichiro Matsuura speaking with Juan Luis Guerra and Francisco Javier García in his office at UNESCO. .

Juan Luis Guerra is receiving the award from Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO.