Raul Sapena Pastor Guérin (9 October 1908 – 15 June 1989) was a Paraguayan lawyer, diplomat, professor and judge who served as foreign minister of the

Republic of Paraguay Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. It has a population of around 6 ...

from 1956 to 1976.

Family

He was the youngest of 9 children. His parents were Francisco Sapena y Pastor, a Spanish immigrant, and Josephine Guérìn Mertens, a French immigrant. Near the end of the

Chaco War The Chaco War (, Universidad Nacional de Asunción The Universidad Nacional de Asunción or Mbo'ehaovusu Tetãgua Paraguaygua, abbreviated UNA, anglicized as, The National University of Asuncion, is a public university founded in San Lorenzo, Paraguay. Founded in 1889, it is the oldest and most ...

, obtaining the title of Doctor of Law and Social Sciences; during his studies he was also president of the Law Students Center. Later on his life he would also obtain an

honorary degree An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...

from the

University of Rio de Janeiro The Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (, UFRJ) is a public research university in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the largest federal university in the country and is one of the Brazilian centers of excellence in teaching and research. Brazil's ...

in Brazil. A few years after his graduation, the Chaco War began, and Raúl volunteered for service, becoming an officer in the

Paraguayan Army The Paraguayan Army () is the ground force branch of the Armed Forces of Paraguay. It is organized into three corps and nine divisions, and several commands and direction. It has gone to war on many occasions, notably in the War of the Triple A ...

with the rank of lieutenant. He first worked as a teacher at the

Goethe Johann Wolfgang (von) Goethe (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German polymath who is widely regarded as the most influential writer in the German language. His work has had a wide-ranging influence on Western literature, literary, Polit ...

, and

National National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

schools in Asunción. At the same time he taught Political Economy, Private International Law, Consular Legislation and Public International Law at the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences of the Universidad Nacional de Asunción. At the

War College A war college is a senior military academy which is normally intended for veteran military officers and whose purpose is to educate and 'train on' senior military tacticians, strategists, and leaders. It is also often the place where advanced tac ...

, he was a professor of Public International Law. He was president of the Banco de la República del Paraguay (today split into the

Central Bank of Paraguay The Central Bank of Paraguay () is Paraguay's highest monetary authority, and the country's governing body, in finances and economics. Its headquarters are in Asunción's Las Lomas (Asunción), Carmelitas neighbourhood. The current President ...

and the ), and Ambassador in Argentina and Brazil. He was named

Minister of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and foreign relations, relations, diplomacy, bilateralism, ...

when he was 48, and he held the position for a record 20 years; afterwards he resigned and assumed a seat in the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

. He was elected Senator of the Republic of Paraguay for three terms: 1973–78, 1978–83, 1983–89. He held his seat in the Senate of the Republic until his death. It also has important international law books that have been used in various universities throughout Latin America.

Judicial functions

Throughout his long career Raúl also held judicial positions, over time being a district judge in Paraguay's Criminal, Civil and Commercial courts, State attorney general, president of the Civil Court of Appeals and Commerce, and finally a minister of the

Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay The Supreme Court of Justice of Paraguay () is the highest court of Paraguay. The Senate and the President of Paraguay select its nine ministers (judges) on the basis of recommendations from a constitutionally created (Council of Magistrates). ...

between 1938 and 1940.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

His work at the Paraguayan Chancellery can be divided into 2 sections. One prior to the arrival of Gral.

Alfredo Stroessner Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda (; 3 November 1912 – 16 August 2006) was a Paraguayan politician, army general and Military dictatorship, military dictator who ruled as the 42nd president of Paraguay from 15 August 1954 until his overthrow in 19 ...

to the presidency of Paraguay, and the other during his presidency in Paraguay, and the installation of the dictatorship. At that point, he resigned from office.

Honors and awards

* : Grand Cross of the

Order of the Liberator General San Martín The Order of the Liberator General San Martín () is the highest decoration in Argentina. It is awarded to foreign politicians or military, deemed worthy of the highest recognition from Argentina. It is granted by the sitting President of Argenti ...

* : Grand Cross of the

Order of the Condor of the Andes The Order of the Condor of the Andes () is a state decoration of the Plurinational State of Bolivia instituted on 12 April 1925. The Order is awarded for exceptional merit, either civil or military, shown by Bolivians or foreign nationals. The ...

* : ** Grand Cross of the

Order of the Southern Cross The National Order of the Southern Cross () is a Brazilian Orders, decorations, and medals of Brazil, order of chivalry founded by List of monarchs of Brazil, Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, Pedro I on 1 December 1822. The order aimed to commemorate ...

** ** Marshal Caetano de Faria Medal * : Grand Cross of the

Order of Merit The Order of Merit () is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by Edward VII, admission into the order r ...

* : Grand Cross of the

Order of Boyacá The Order of Boyacá () is the highest peacetime decoration of Colombia. The order is awarded for exceptional service to distinguished Colombian military officers and civilians as well as foreign citizens of friendly nations. Established in 1922, ...

* : Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit * : Grand Cross of the Order of the Republic * : Knight Grand Cross of the

* : Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Rising Sun The is a Japanese honors system, Japanese order, established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji. The Order was the first national decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created on 10 April 1875 by decree of the Council of State. The badge feat ...

* : Grand Cross of the

Order pro Merito Melitensi The Order of Merit (; ) is the order of merit of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, established in 1920. It is awarded to recipients who have brought honour to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, promoted Christian values and for chari ...

* : Grand Cross of the

Order of Rubén Darío The Order of Rubén Darío () is a medal of honor in Nicaragua that was established on February 16, 1951. It is given to notable people who contributed to the world of art, literature, science and international relations. History The Order of Rub ...

* : Grand Officer of the

Order of Orange-Nassau The Order of Orange-Nassau () is a civil and military Dutch order of chivalry founded on 4 April 1892 by the queen regent, Emma of the Netherlands. The order is a chivalric order open to "everyone who has performed acts of special merits for ...

* : ** Grand Cross of the

Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa The Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa is an order of Panama, instituted on 1 July 1941 (''Ley No. 94 de 1 de julio de 1941''). It is awarded for distinguished diplomatic services and contributions to international relations between Panama and othe ...

** Grand-Cross of the

Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero The Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero () is the highest honour of Panama. Named after Manuel Amador Guerrero, the first president of Panama, the order was established on the 50th anniversary of Panama's independence on 29 October 1953. It is awa ...

* : Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun * : ** Grand Cordon of the

Order of Brilliant Star Order of Brilliant Star () is a civilian order of the Republic of China (Taiwan) recognizing outstanding contributions to the development of the nation. The order is instituted in 1941 and can be awarded to both domestic and foreign nationals. ...

** Grand Cordon of the

Order of Propitious Clouds The Order of Propitious Clouds () is a civilian order of the Republic of China (Taiwan). The center of the medal features a picture of clouds, as a token of auspiciousness. This order was instituted in 1941 and classified into nine ranks. As wit ...

* : Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of Isabella the Catholic The Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic (; Abbreviation, Abbr.: OYC) is a knighthood and one of the three preeminent Order of merit, orders of merit bestowed by the Kingdom of Spain, alongside the Order of Charles III (established in 1771) and ...

* : Knight Commander of the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

* : Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of Pope Pius IX The Order of Pope Pius IX (), also referred as the Pian Order (, ), is a papal order of knighthood originally founded by Pope Pius IV in 1560. It is the highest honor currently conferred by the Holy See (two higher honors, the Supreme Order of C ...

* : Grand Cordon of the

Order of the Liberator The Order of the Liberator was the highest distinction of Venezuela and was appointed for services to the country, outstanding merit and benefits made to the community. For Venezuelans the order ranks first in the order of precedence from other o ...

Death

He died in Asunción, Paraguay, on 15 June 1989. The then President of the Republic,

Andrés Rodríguez Pedotti Andres or Andrés may refer to: *Andres, Illinois, an unincorporated community in Will County, Illinois, US *Andres, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in Pas-de-Calais, France *Andres (name) *Hurricane Andres * "Andres" (song), a 1994 song by L7 See also ...

and the Congress of the Republic decided that his burial was to be carried out with the military honors corresponding a Division General, for the high services rendered to the homeland.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pastor, Raul Sapena 1908 births 1989 deaths People from Asunción Paraguayan judges Ministers of foreign affairs of Paraguay People of the Chaco War Colorado Party (Paraguay) politicians Ambassadors of Paraguay to Brazil Ambassadors of Paraguay to Argentina Justices of the Supreme Court of Paraguay