Higher Education: Law Degree and Master in Laws, University of Law, Economy and Social Sciences, Paris II, France, 1973-77. Degree in International Law, Institute of the Higher International Studies, Panthen-Sorbone, France, 1975-1977. Thesis approved with Honors titled: International Coffee Conventions and its applications in El Salvador. Postgraduate Studies: Masters in Law with specialization in Public and Private International Law License in International Law, University of King’s College, London, 1977-78; Admitted as Attorney at Law in the Republic of El Salvador by the Universidad Nacional de El Salvador, 1991; Authorized as Notary Public by the Supreme Court of Justice of El Salvador, 1992.

Other Studies: Session on International Law, Course at The Hague Academy of International Law, Hague, The Netherlands, 1975; Post-graduate seminars on International Politics and Great Contemporary Problems, Universidad José Simeón Cañas, San Salvador, February-June 1983; The International System: Crisis and Continuity, August-November 1983; Theory of the International Relations, March-June 1984; Course in the European Economic Community, Brussels, Strasburg, Luxemburg, 1991; Seminar on International Commercial Law, FUSADES, (Salvadorian Foundation for the Development of El Salvador), San Salvador, 1994; Meeting of the Summit of the Earth, Rio 5, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1997; Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development of the United Nations, New York, 1999; Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on Sustainable Development, New York, 1997.

Legal Experience: Senior Partner of ACZALAW Central American Firm, since March 2002;  Partner of Castaneda, Salinas & Asociados, at present Castaneda, Gutierrez & Asociados, San Salvador, since 1979; Legal Advisor of the Embassy of France in the Republic of El Salvador; since 1985 Legal Counsel of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, San Salvador, El Salvador, 1981-1985;

Legal Practice: Corporate Law, International Public and Private Law, Telecommunications Law; International Arbitration; Notary Public Law; Commercial Law in general.

Public Posts: Legal Counsel of the Ministry of Foreingn Affairs of the Republic of El Salvador, 1981-85; Secretary of the Vice-President’s Forum, National Executive Director of the “Trifinio Plan”, Vice-Presidency of the Republic of El Salvador, since 1994; National Secretary of the Central American Parliament Program, Vice-Presidency of the Republic, San Salvador, El Salvador, 1989-1992; Member of the National Council for Sustainable Development, appointed by the President of the Republic of El Salvador, 1997-99; Enviromental Vice Minister of the Republic of El Salvador, since June 2004.

Academic Experience and Business Posts: Inter-Institutional Director CTE-TELECOM (France Telecom’s Salvadorian subsidiary), San Salvador, since 1999; Professor, Private International Law, Universidad José Matías Delgado, San Salvador, 1983, 1994, 1978-1981; Member of the Academic Council of the Masters in International Law, Universidad José Matías Delgado, San Salvador, since 1989; Member of the Board of Directors of the Universidad Jose Matias Delgado, since 1992; Member of the Hispanic-Portuguese-American Institute of International Law, El Escorial, Spain, since 1991; President of the French-Salvadorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry of El Salvador, 1997-00; Founding member of FUSADES (Salvadorian Foundation for the Development of El Salvador), since 1994.

Distinction: National Order of Merit, Grade: “Caballero” Republic of France, 1996.                  

Languages: French, Spanish and English