Reinaldo Gargano

{{short description|Uruguayan political figure (1934–2013)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Reinaldo Gargano | image = Gargano03.jpg | office = 35px<br />Senator | term_start = March 11, 1985 | term_end = February 28, 2005 | office2 = Minister of Foreign Relations | term_start2 = March 1, 2005 | term_end2 = March 3, 2008 | office3 = Senator | term_start3 = March 3, 2008 | term_end3 = March 3, 2010 | birth_date = {{birth date|1934|7|26}} | birth_place = Paysandú, Uruguay | death_date = {{death date and age|2013|2|5|1934|7|26}} | death_place = Montevideo, Uruguay | party = Socialist Party | spouse = Judith Grauert | children = Two | occupation = Politician, journalist }}

'''Reinaldo Apolo Gargano Ostuni''' (July 26, 1934 – February 5, 2013) was a Uruguayan political figure.<ref name=Death>{{cite web |url=http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/242937/murio-reinaldo-gargano-/ |title=Murió Reinaldo Gargano |publisher=Elobservador.com.uy |date= |accessdate=2013-02-08 |archive-date=2013-06-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615095701/http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/242937/murio-reinaldo-gargano-/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Exile== Born in Paysandú, Uruguay on July 26, 1934, Gargano went into exile in Spain in 1974 following a coup d'état. He returned to Uruguay several years later.

==Foreign Minister of Uruguay== He served as the Minister of Foreign Relations of Uruguay<ref name=SEA>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311120731/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewItem&itemID=13556 Chileans Rule Out Sea Access Talks with Bolivia]}} Angus Reid Consultants</ref> from March 2005 until March 2008, in the government of the President of Uruguay Tabaré Vázquez.

===Relations with Cuba and Venezuela; trade issues=== On 1 November 2004 Gargano said, "Our people will warmly welcome the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Uruguay and Cuba."<ref name=CUBA>[http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200411fa_e.asp Chronicle on Cuba - November 2004 Foreign Affairs November 1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312092958/http://www.cubasource.org/publications/chronicles/coc200411fa_e.asp |date=2007-03-12 }} Cubasource</ref>

As Foreign Affairs Minister in the first government of the Frente Amplio Gargano favored a stronger integration of Uruguay in the Mercosur, and opposed any free trade agreement with the US on ideological grounds. Gargano also promoted the close alignment of Uruguay with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his anti-American "Movimiento Bolivariano" league of nations which include Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, Bolivia and Ecuador.

===Arms from Iran controversy=== In 2007 a pressing issue arose for Gargano's Foreign Affairs Ministry, when the loading of Iranian arms onto a Uruguayan Navy vessel visiting Venezuela, in contravention of a UN-sponsored arms embargo provoked international comment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2007/oct/12/uruguay-caught-buying-iran-arms/ |title=Uruguay caught buying Iranian arms |date=October 12, 2007 |work=The Washington Times|accessdate=February 8, 2013}}</ref>

===Resignation=== Gargano resigned from the Government of President Tabaré Vázquez in March 2008. He was succeeded as Foreign Minister by Gonzalo Fernández.

==Death== Gargano died on February 5, 2013, in Montevideo at the age of 79 after months of heart problems. He is buried at Parque del Recuerdo cemetery.<ref name=Death/>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gargano, Reinaldo}} Category:1934 births Category:2013 deaths Category:People from Paysandú Category:Members of the Senate of Uruguay Category:Ministers of foreign relations of Uruguay Category:Uruguayan people of Italian descent Category:Socialist Party of Uruguay politicians Category:Burials at Parque del Recuerdo (Uruguay)