C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001962

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2026
TAGS: ES PINR PINRES
SUBJECT: (C) UNGA-RELATED QUESTIONS (EL SALVADOR)

REF: STATE 127917

Classified By: Charge d' Affaires Michael A. Butler,
Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) El Salvador's Permanent Representative to the United
Nations is Carmen Maria Gallardo de Hernandez (DPOB November
28, 1949; San Salvador). Gallardo is married with two
children; her husband is Xavier Hernandez, a Coca-Cola
executive. Ms. Gallardo de Hernandez is the sister of
Cecilia Gallardo de Cano, a former Minister of Education, who
is now an advisor to President Saca on social issues. Carmen
Gallardo received a Masters degree in Parliamentary and
Conference Interpretation from the University of Geneva, a
degree in Clinical Psychology from Ibero-American University
in Mexico City (1989), and an honorary doctorate in
International Relations from El Salvador's Technical
University (1998). Gallardo de Hernandez was named
Professional of the Year in 1997 by the Salvadoran Bar
Association. A former ambassador noted that Ms. Gallardo is
"diplomatically-oriented, sharp, and analytical." She speaks
French fluently, and English fairly. Her official biography
notes that she also speaks Italian, but her fluency in that
language is unknown. (Note: Her perspectives on
international events can be viewed on the El Diario de Hoy
website, by searching the archive with her name. End note.)


2. (C) Prior to her 2004 appointment to the UN, Ms. Gallardo
was International Cooperation Coordinator for El Salvador's
Supreme Court (2002-2004). In addition to her diplomatic
career, she has worked as an independent columnist for the
nation's two leading dailies, El Diario de Hoy (1999-2002)
and La Prensa Grafica (1994-1997). From 1995 to 1996, Ms.
Gallardo de Hernandez served as Executive Director for the
Foundation for Peace (FUNDAPAZ), the NGO founded after the
country's 12-year civil war to promote the peaceful
reintegration of Salvadoran society. In 1994, Gallardo was
Ambassador to France and Portugal, and during 1992-1993, she
served as El Salvador's Permanent Delegate to the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO).


3. (C) Both Gallardo and Foreign Minister Francisco Lainez
are well-versed on UN issues. Gallardo likely has a more
Eurocentric view than Lainez, but both share the goal of
increasing El Salvador's prominence in global affairs, and
both are active in the development of El Salvador's stance in
UN matters. United States views continue to influence El
Salvador's positions in the UN and other international fora;
poloff is regularly told that our demarches are forwarded to
El Salvador's UN delegation for use in the formulation of
GOES policy.


4. (C) President Saca takes an active role in the
development of foreign policy, and regularly considers both
domestic and international reactions when making decisions.
Saca maintains a close relationship with Foreign Minister
Lainez, but other members of the President's inner circle
also exert influence on foreign policy issues. On
particularly controversial issues, such as the deployment of
the Cuscatlan Battalion in support of coalition forces in
Iraq, Saca sometimes seeks concurrence from the Legislative
Assembly.


5. (C) Pursuant to reftel paragrapgh 3, the Embassy's
Classified biography of Foreign Minister Lainez is available
at http://
ncd.state.sgov.gov/bio/country/slv/list.html? page=2. An
official GOES biography is available at http://
www.rree.gob.sv/sitio/sitiowebrree.nsf/
pages/scancilleria canciller. Lainez is fluent in English
and French.
Butler