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(CNN Spanish) - Mexico's ambassador to Argentina, Ricardo Valero, resigned from his post "for health reasons," the Mexican Foreign Ministry (SRE) reported on Sunday.
“Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard has accepted the resignation of Emb. Ricardo Valero for health reasons ”, announced on Twitter Roberto Velasco Álvarez, Social Communication Manager of the SRE.
The Foreign Secretary, @m_ebrard, has accepted the resignation of Emb. Ricardo Valero for health reasons.
Mr. Valero will continue his treatment with the support of his family. @SRE_mx wishes you a speedy recovery.
- Roberto Velasco Álvarez (@r_velascoa) December 22, 2019
At the beginning of December, Mexico ordered the return of Valero to national territory to be investigated by the Ethics and Conflict Prevention Committee of Interest of the Foreign Ministry after it was reported that on October 26, the ambassador would have tried to steal a book of a bookstore in Buenos Aires.
The case will be reviewed “so that it is analyzed and the conductive measures are determined,” the SRE said in a statement.
When CNN tried to communicate with the ambassador at that time, it was unsuccessful. When consulting the Mexican legation in Argentina, they indicated that their position is the "same that reflects the statement of our Foreign Ministry."
According to the report of the Police of the City of Buenos Aires, on October 26 a call was received from the El Ateneo bookstore, located in the center of the city, where it was indicated that a man had been held “accused of illicit".
The police report stated verbatim: "Personnel were sent, the novelty being affirmative, the prevented male is Mr. Ambassador of Mexico Valerio Recio Becerra Oscar, who tried to subtract a bibliography of the author Giacomo Casanova."
"After having collected the personal information, invite it to be removed from the place," added the police.
The case is in the criminal secretariat of the Supreme Court of Argentina since late October, three judicial sources informed CNN. Complaints involving diplomats are resolved by the highest court. The case is awaiting treatment.
“Subject to treatment”
This Sunday, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, citing the tweet of Velasco Álvarez, of Social Communication of the SRE, said that Ambassador Valero "is a great person" and that he is "subject to neurological treatment, I wish him a speedy recovery."
Ricardo Valero is a great person, he is subject to neurological treatment, I wish him a speedy recovery. https://t.co/xAj5VI0Fnz
- Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) December 22, 2019
In a second tweet, Velasco Álvarez said he shared "a medical evaluation of Mr. Valero at the request of his relatives." In the document, signed by Dr. Ana Luisa Sosa Ortiz, from the Médica Sur hospital, it is detailed that, in April 2012, the ambassador “developed a frontal syndrome characterized by behavioral alterations, caused by a brain tumor, for which he was operated "
I share a medical evaluation of Mr. Valero at the request of his relatives. pic.twitter.com/pWsqBhPhm1
- Roberto Velasco Álvarez (@r_velascoa) December 23, 2019
"In the light of recent events in Buenos Aires, Argentina," the document says, "(...) it is estimated that despite its post-surgical operation it has been gradually presenting a reactivation of the frontal syndrome, which has gradually worsened in the last year and a half. ”
"The evolution of the frontal syndrome indicated, is expressed in involuntary impulsiveness and impaired judgment, which can cause frank alterations in behavior even when other cognitive functions are performed with apparent normalcy."
Valero has not made public comments about this medical evaluation released by the Foreign Ministry.
Ambassador
