New Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Felix Plasencia. File photo
This Thursday, August 19, the president of Venezuela, NicolĂĄs Maduro, announced changes in five ministries of his cabinet, after several members of the Executive were elected to be candidates for the regional elections scheduled for November 21.
Among the changes that Maduro made, one of the most significant was the post of Foreign Minister of the Republic. The president announced that Jorge Arreaza would be replaced by FĂ©lix Plasenciaânow responsible for planning, organizing and executing Venezuela’s foreign policy, under President Maduro’s direction.
Asimismo, designĂ© como nuevo Canciller de la RepĂșblica al Licenciado FĂ©lix Plasencia. Tiene la inmensa responsabilidad de continuar la excelente labor diplomĂĄtica desempeñada por Jorge Arreaza. Cada vez mĂĄs, hagamos triunfar en el mundo nuestra Diplomacia de Paz.
— NicolĂĄs Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) August 19, 2021
Resumé
Plasencia has a degree in International Studies, is an expert in international negotiation, and a veteran member of Venezuelan diplomacy since 1991. He also holds a master’s degree in European Studies from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, and a postgraduate degree in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford, New College, England.
Plasencia, a career diplomat, already held a diplomatic post at the Venezuelan embassy in London by the end of the second term of Rafael Caldera (1994-1999) and according to local media forged a friendship with the current Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy RodrĂguez. He returned London as counsel in 2006, when Nicolas Maduro was the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Delcy RodrĂguez was Deputy Minister for Europe, during the mandate of Commander Hugo ChĂĄvez.
From 2012 to 2014 he was director of international relations of the Caracas mayor’s office, during Jorge RodrĂguez’s tenure as mayor. In addition, Plasencia has served as president of Fundapatrimonio, the Caracas mayor’s office for historic landmarks.
He assumed the ambassadorship of Venezuela in Beijing in November 2020. Plasencia also served previously as Minister of Tourism (2019) and Vice Minister for Asia, Middle East and Oceania, Vice Minister for Multilateral Organizations, and Director of Protocol in the Foreign Relations portfolio from 2014 to 2017, when Delcy RodrĂguez was the top Venezuelan diplomat.
He also quietly participated, on behalf of the government, in the international contact group created by the European Union last year, and was one of the liaisons during the 2019 visit to Venezuela of Michelle Bachelet, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights.
RELATED CONTENT: Arreaza Questions âAnti-Diplomatic Circusâ of UKâs Top Diplomat in Venezuela
The new foreign minister’s first major challenge is opening negotiations with the political opposition in Mexico City, from where a “memorandum of understanding” was signed last Friday establishing the roadmap for the dialogue. Among the points established in the memorandum was the lifting of illegal US and European sanctions that affect millions of Venezuelans. In addition to his responsibility, Plasencia will be tasked with continuing Arreaza’s work as defender of the Venezuelan reality before international bodies and other nations.
Recibo con gran compromiso y orgullo esta nueva responsabilidad que asumiré, gracias pdte @NicolasMaduro
ÂĄseguimos trabajando por Venezuela! https://t.co/rfk1EiItIB— Felix Plasencia (@plasenciafelixr) August 19, 2021
Other cabinet changes
Maduro also announced Admiral Remigio Ceballos Ichaso’s appointment as the new Minister of Internal Relations, Justice and Peace. Yelitze Santaella is now in charge of the Ministry for Education, while the Ministry for Women and Gender Equality will be represented by Margaud Godoy. In Ecological Mining Development, Admiral William Serantes Pinto was also appointed.
Mervin Maldonado, Minister for Youth and Sports, will take over as Vice President of the Government for Social and Territorial Socialism, with the aim of guaranteeing the well-being of the Venezuelan people.
Featured image: New Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Felix Plasencia. File photo
(RedRadioVE) by Daniela Jimenez, with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SL
