BIO/3277

NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF VENEZUELA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

3 March 2000


Press Release
BIO/3277


NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF VENEZUELA PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

20000303 Biographical Note

(Based on information received from the Protocol and Liaison Service.)

Ignacio Arcaya, the new Permanent Representative of Venezuela, presented his credentials to Secretary-General Kofi Annan today.

Before assuming his current post, Mr. Arcaya was his country's Minister of Government and Justice and, in October 1999, its acting President. A career diplomat, he previously served as Venezuela's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, following terms as Ambassador to Argentina, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Chile, and Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Philippines. He has also been an ambassador-at-large with the Foreign Ministry, and served in the Venezuelan missions to Geneva, the Organization of American States (OAS), and the United States. From 1984 to 1988, he was Secretary-General of the Association of Iron Ore Exporting Countries.

Mr. Arcaya studied international affairs and law at the Central University of Venezuela. He has received honours from the Governments of Italy (Order of Merit), Brazil, Peru, Argentina, Ecuador and Chile, as well as from his own country.

Born on 3 June 1939, Mr. Arcaya is married and has two children.

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For information media. Not an official record.