Diego Cortes Asencio (July 15, 1931 â October 6, 2020) was an American diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Colombia (1977âÂÂ1980) and United States Ambassador to Brazil (1983âÂÂ86). He was a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and Council on Foreign Relations.
In 1980 Asencio was â along with a dozen other diplomats â held hostage for 61 days when members of the guerrilla group 19th of April Movement (M-19), led by Rosemberg Pabón, seized the Dominican Republic's embassy in Bogotá.
Article, Washington Post, Dateline Bogota, Colombia, February 28, 1980, by Charles A Krause, "Envoy Takes Charge" U.S. Ambassador Wins Respect From All With Candor, Wit and Confident Manner