OAS chief faces probe over relationship with staffer By Reuters

By Marco Aquino and Carolina Pulice

LIMA (Reuters) -Luis Almagro, the chief of the Group of American States (OAS), confirmed on Friday that he faces an inner investigation over a romantic relationship with a employees member, however denied it may need violated the group’s ethics insurance policies.

Almagro’s remarks, on the finish of the OAS’s annual summit this week in Lima, adopted a report by the Related Press that described a “long-running” consensual relationship with a Mexican-born girl twenty years his junior.

“My staff and I are very calm, as a result of now we have at all times taken the suitable measures, in order that no scenario could be in violation of (OAS) guidelines,” Almagro instructed a information convention.

“I used to be by no means a supervisor of any individual with whom I had a relationship, I by no means promoted her and by no means raised her wage in any approach.”

The lady, who was not recognized, has been on unpaid depart since June, the AP stated.

Almagro, who has led the Washington-based OAS since 2015, beforehand served as overseas minister in his native Uruguay. He’s separated from his spouse, the AP added.

On Friday evening, Peru’s ambassador to the OAS, Harold Forsyth, stated he was conscious of the connection however denied there had been any impropriety.

“What I do know is he has a relationship with a girl who works on the OAS,” Forsyth instructed Canal N tv.

The allegations got here simply weeks after the Inter-American Improvement Financial institution fired President Mauricio Claver-Carone following accusations, which he denies, that he had a relationship with a subordinate.

The OAS’ ethics tips say employees should not have intimate relationships after they intervene with the efficiency of their duties or “drawback others within the office.”

In addition they dictate that managers should step again from “supervising or evaluating” the opposite particular person.