He watched a series of Secretaries General try to exercise authority, with mixed results.

Dialogue between the Secretaries General of the main ruling and opposition parties failed to sort out the electoral reform issues.

In 2000 he became one of the Secretaries General of the Parliament.

A spokesman described the Secretary General as "frustrated by the slow pace and the inability to reach the necessary compromises."

Britain and the Netherlands have already provided two Secretary Generals each, making it difficult for nationals of those countries to take the job.

From 1981 to 1999 retired federal secretaries were Secretaries General of the Foundation.

The presence of the two Secretaries General was hailed by Contadora diplomats as a significant development.

As for administrative expenses, the three institutions agreed to hold extensive discussions about the report of the Secretaries General regarding the multi-annual development.

Rather than risk offending a major power, successive Secretary Generals have yielded to Soviet demands to keep such posts.

The commission consists of the two Secretary Generals, but in practice it is to comprise senior aides specializing in the region.