Willy Claes | |
|---|---|
 Claes in 2008 | |
| 8thSecretary General of NATO | |
| In office 17 October 1994 – 20 October 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Manfred Wörner Sergio Balanzino(acting) |
| Succeeded by | Sergio Balanzino(acting) Javier Solana |
| President of theParty of European Socialists | |
| In office November 1992 – October 1994 | |
| Preceded by | Guy Spitaels |
| Succeeded by | Rudolf Scharping |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 7 March 1992 – 10 October 1994 | |
| Prime Minister | Jean-Luc Dehaene |
| Preceded by | Mark Eyskens |
| Succeeded by | Frank Vandenbroucke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1938-11-24)24 November 1938 (age 86) Hasselt, Belgium |
| Political party | Socialistische Partij Anders (SP.A) |
| Spouse | Suzanne Meynen |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Vrije Universiteit Brussel |
Willem Werner Hubert "Willy"Claes[1] (Dutch:[ˈʋɪliˈklaːs]; born 24 November 1938) is a Belgianpolitician who served as theeighth Secretary General of NATO, from 1994 to 1995. Claes was forced to resign from his NATO position after he was found guilty of corruption, which was uncovered during the investigation intoAndré Cools' death. Claes was a member of theFlemish Socialist Party.
Claes was born inHasselt, Belgium. He graduated in political and diplomatic sciences at theVrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
Claes began his political career in the Hasselt city council. In 1968, he was elected to thenational parliament. In 1972, he entered thecabinet for the first time as minister of education. Between 1973 and 1992, he was minister of economic affairs of Belgium three separate times. He also served as deputy prime minister five times, and was an important negotiator in the formation of coalition governments during the 1980s.
Claes wasMinister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 until 1994 in the GovernmentJean-Luc Dehaene I, during which period he presided over Belgium's withdrawal from the UN peacekeeping mission in Rwanda during theRwandan genocide. Belgium's withdrawal and the subsequent proposal by Claes of the withdrawal at the UN of all UN-Troops is thought[2] to have dramatically worsened the situation on the ground, leading to thousands of deaths.[3]
Claes was also Secretary General ofNATO from 1994 until 1995, when he resigned after the discovery of a bribe of over 50 millionBelgian francs (BEF), accepted at the time he was minister of economic affairs and connected to the defence contract negotiations withAgusta and Dassault. A criminal trial was handled by the Court of Cassation, which is responsible for cases involving minister in function. Claes received a 60 000 BEF fine, a three-year probationary sentence and a five-year prohibition on running for public office. An appeal at theEuropean Court of Human Rights resulted in the confirmation of the Belgian sentence.
Claes is known for being a pianist and has frequently performed concerts. Even as secretary-general of NATO, he had a piano in his residence to keep in practice.[4]
Media related toWilly Claes at Wikimedia Commons
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| Preceded by | Minister of Foreign Affairs 1992–1994 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | President of theParty of European Socialists 1992–1994 | Succeeded by |
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| Preceded by | Secretary General of NATO 1994–1995 | Succeeded by |
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