The Foreign Service Journal, January 2010

guest was about to play a greater role in the future: Michael Posner. He at- tended the gathering as president of the organization Human Rights First. A few months later, he was sworn into the position first held by Patt Derian, becoming assistant secretary of State for democracy, human rights and labor on Sept. 23, 2009. The Foreign Minister Amb. Timerman spoke from his heart about the achievements of Patt Derian. But in so doing, he also repre- sented others who could not be pres- ent. One of them was Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Enrique Ta- iana. The ambassador read a letter toMs. Derian from the foreign minister: “We very much value your efforts as assis- tant secretary for human rights and hu- manitarian affairs during the Carter administration to foster respect of human rights inmy country and all over Latin America, and for your stern crit- icism of the cruel policies of the Ar- gentine dictatorship. On a personal note, I wish to express my gratitude for your kind support to my mother, your advocacy for my father and me while we were imprisoned...” (Dr. Jorge Al- berto Taiana, a minister in the govern- ment of Juan Peron, and his son, Jorge Enrique, both spent seven years in prison, until the end of the military gov- ernment.) The Argentine government recently decided to give special recognition to those abroad who had supported the human rights movement against the junta. Amb. Timerman noted that he had been a vigorous advocate for Patt Derian while other embassies in Eu- rope were proposing their own candi- dates for recognition. But one fact made Ms. Derian dif- ferent from the others, he said. “She was the only one who represented a government willing to make the de- fense of human rights a priority,” Amb. Timerman declared. The guests then raised their glasses for toasts to Patt Derian, to former President Jimmy Carter and the United States of America. Both individuals en- dure in the memory of Argentines today, a generation later. ■ J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 29 The Mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo have spent 30 years demanding justice.