The Diplomat
The new Spanish Ambassador to Brazil, Mar Fernández-Palacios, participated last week in a working breakfast organized by the Spain-Brazil Council Foundation (FCEB), in which she announced the forthcoming creation of a direct contact between the Embassy and the organization.
During the meeting, the first of the new ambassador since her appointment on July 5, Mar Fernández-Palacios highlighted the importance of the Foundation’s activities, such as the Spain-Brazil Forum or the Brazil Leaders Program, and announced her intention to create a direct contact between the Spanish Embassy in Brazil and the FCEB, given the relevance of this organization in strengthening bilateral relations.
On the other hand, the patrons of the FCEB presented their activities and projects in Brazil and were able to raise and discuss various issues with the Ambassador, such as the Brazilian elections in October this year, the celebration of the Bicentennial of the Independence of Brazil, the ratification of the EU-Mercosur Agreement, synergies in science and technology, the mutual commitment to energy transition, the growing educational and linguistic exchanges, or bilateral cooperation for recovery after the pandemic.
Santiago Fernández-Valbuena, advisory trustee of the Spain-Brazil Council Foundation, hosted the meeting with the new ambassador. He was joined by the Deputy Director General for Mercosur Countries and Ibero-American Multilateral Organizations, Enrique Yturriaga, as the highest representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Brazilian Embassy in Spain was represented by Luiz Claudio Themudo, Minister in Charge of Business, and Leandro Zenni, Minister Counselor. Also attending were the heads of international relations of the companies and organizations which make up the Board of Trustees, such as Acciona, Abertis, Redeia, Banco Santander (Cecilia Yuste, Director of Institutional Affairs), Indra, Mapfre, Instituto Cervantes (Philippe Robertet, Deputy Director of International Relations), Telefónica, Repsol and SEPIE, besides Manuel de la Cámara, Honorary Trustee of the Spain-Brazil Council Foundation.
Fernández-Palacios was appointed Ambassador by the Council of Ministers on July 5th, replacing the former Secretary of State for Ibero-America and International Cooperation and future Consul General in Buenos Aires, Fernando García Casas. She was previously ambassador to Nicaragua, but since August last year she has been in Spain after having been recalled for consultations in the midst of a heated exchange of accusations between the Spanish government and the regime of Daniel Ortega. Between 1998 and 2002 she had already been posted at the Embassy in Brazil as cultural and cooperation counselor.
