Natasha Niebieskikwiat
02/10/2020 - 16:48
- Clarín.com
- Politics
María del Carmen Squeff, better known as "Marilita", will be the ambassador to the United Nations . In the first days of the new government she was appointed Undersecretary of Mercosur and International Economic Negotiations. But it was decided that in the coming months replace Martín García Moritan. Career diplomat, also with the rank of ambassador, García Moritán has been the head of the Argentine mission in the headquarters of the agency, in New York, for the past four years.
Former ambassador to France and Nigeria, Squeff is the second woman appointed in weeks in a diplomatic position abroad that is key , for sensitive issues such as peace and international conflicts where the country must set a position. Or also because there the battle with the United Kingdom for the sovereignty of the Falklands is fought . Or, issues ranging from the Middle East crisis to Venezuela are addressed.
A few weeks ago, Alberto Fernández and his chancellor, Felipe Solá, resolved an intern around who the ambassador to the Vatican would be in favor of María Fernanda Silva, minister in the diplomatic career, and who will surely soon ascend to the rank of ambassador, who Marilita does.
Both Silva and Squeff are two diplomats of strong Christian beliefs. In fact it first transpired that Squeff would go to the Vatican, and Silva appeared as a "surprise" candidate.
The difference is that Silva made his militancy in public with his shirts from the book of the former president, "Sincerely," participated in public events and made statements against sectors of Kirchnerism who criticized for "abandoning" those who consider "political prisoners" , like Milagro Salas and Luis D'Elía.
In contrast to Squeff, with more years of career, no public statements are known, although throughout the electoral campaign he aligned the Peronist troops and especially the young people of the diplomatic career at the Foreign Ministry. And he made a video with former Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana in favor of the Frente de Todos. He had returned early because of health problems he acquired in Nigeria.
Squeff is Santafecina, as is former Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie. He studied Political Science and International Relations at the National University of Rosario. He later specialized in the University of Brussels . And in addition to being an ambassador in France and Nigeria, she had other missions, in a Foreign Ministry dominated for years by male positions. She was assigned to the mission to support the peace process in Colombia; Undersecretary of Foreign Policy; and held several positions in FAO (the UN food and agriculture program). He also chaired the Committee on World Food Security.
Today he is also a member of the Board of Diplomatic Promotions, which is chaired by former Vice Chancellor Eduardo Zuaín, who in turn will be appointed director of the National Foreign Service Institute (ISEN), where aspiring career diplomats are trained.
Squeff has no replacement to go as head of the UN mission, where high respect for García Moritán prevails. But surely that replacement takes place between this first quarter and the second of the year.
Alberto Fernández will star in his first General Assembly of the organization next September, and Felipe Solá his first Decolonization Committee, in June . By then Squeff should already be established.
At the same time, Clarin confirmed, the planned replacements are going at the pace of the low budget to carry and bring officials. Likewise, the Kirchnerist "bases" in the Foreign Ministry demand the return to "The House" of those who were sent with the government of Mauricio Macri. There is no money to make those changes so fast. But in addition, the government has already contacted several officials who were before and told them they will remain in the position.
The political ambassadors appointed by Fernández - until now 12 - were not confirmed by the Senate. And while in the case of diplomats no parliamentary support is needed, they also involve an expense of between US $ 70,000 and US $ 90,000 for those who leave and those who enter. Solá suspended several transfers decided by Faurie's management.
