Gustavo Bell

Gustavo Adolfo Bell Lemus
Colombia Ambassador to Cuba
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 March 2011
President	Juan Manuel Santos Calderón
Preceded by	Julio Londoño Paredes
7th Vice President of Colombia
In office 7 August 1998 – 7 August 2002
President	Andrés Pastrana Arango
Preceded by	Carlos Lemos Simmonds
Succeeded by	Francisco Santos Calderón
Colombian Minister of National Defence
In office 11 June 2001 – 7 August 2002
President	Andrés Pastrana Arango
Preceded by	Luis Fernando Ramírez Acuña
Succeeded by	Marta Lucía Ramírez
53rd Governor of Atlántico
In office 1 January 1992 – 1 January 1994
Preceded by	Arnold Gómez Mendoza
Succeeded by	Nelson Polo Hernández
Personal details
Born	(1957-02-01) 1 February 1957 Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
Nationality	Colombian
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	María Mercedes de la Espriella
Children	María Alexandra Bell de la Espriella
Alma mater	Pontifical Xavierian University (LLB, MSc) St Antony's College, Oxford (PhD)
Profession	Lawyer, Economist, Historian
Religion	Roman Catholic

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Bell and the second or maternal family name is Lemus.

Gustavo Adolfo Bell Lemus (born 1 February 1957) is the current Ambassador of Colombia to Cuba. A lawyer, economist and historian, he served as the seventh Vice President of Colombia between 1998 and 2002 under the administration of Andrés Pastrana Arango, during which time he also served concurrently as High Commissioner for Human Rights of Colombia and as Minister of National Defence between 2001 and 2002. In 1992, as the 53rd Governor of Atlántico, he became the first popularly elected Governor of the Department following the enactment of the 1991 Colombian Constitution.

Career

Education

Bell attended the Pontifical Xavierian University where he obtained a double degree in Laws and Socioeconomics. He completed graduate studies at the University of the Andes on a Constitutional Bicentenary scholarship from the Bank of the Republic [Colombia], the Escuela de Estudios Hispano-Americanos at Seville on a research scholarship from Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and St Antony's College, Oxford on a British Council scholarship, where he also obtained a Ph.D in Modern History.

In addition to his academic studies, Bell was one of the founding members and part of the faculty of the University of the North in Barranquilla.

Journalism

Bell began his work in journalism in El Heraldo, and quickly rose to become one of the most influential journalist in northern Colombia. While working as Executive Editor of El Heraldo, Bell suffered an assassination attempt but escaped unharmed.[1]

Governorship

In 1991 Bell run for governor of the Atlántico Department as an independent candidate, he became the first elected governor by popular vote of this Department for the period between 1992-1994. (governors in Colombia were appointed by the President before the constitution of 1991)

Vice Presidency

After spending three years studying in England Bell returned to Colombia in 1997 and joined the presidential campaign of Andrés Pastrana. Pastrana offered him the Vice Presidency of Colombia, They were elected for the 1998-2002 presidential period.

Vice President Bell was in charge of the Colombian Office for Human Rights issues between 1998 and 2001, year in which President Pastrana also appointed him the Ministry of National Defence.

Ambassadorship

On 29 October 2009, President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón designated Bell to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Colombia to the Republic of Cuba stating "I think better ambassador to Cuba would not be found. We want to maintain a special relationship with Cuba and therefore we will send an ambassador of high carat, as Dr. Bell". On 7 March 2011, Bell was sworn in by President Santos on as Ambassador to Cuba in a ceremony at the Palace of Nariño.

Personal life

Bell was married to María Mercedes De La Espriella and has one daughter named María Alexandra.[2]

References

• people daily - Gustavo Bell
• medios para la paz - Atentado contra la vida de Gustavo Bell
• El Heraldo - MARIA MERCEDES De La Espriella de Bell

Political offices
Preceded by Carlos Lemos Simmonds	Vice President of Colombia 1998–2002	Succeeded by Francisco Santos Calderón