Despite all the criticism that arose from his appointment, the decree signed by the suspended chancellor and that it was not the position he wanted, Armando Benedetti took the oath at the Colombian Embassy in Italy to be the country’s permanent representative to the Organization of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The new ambassador spoke after presenting his credentials to Ambassador Ligia Margarita Quessep Bitar, who is the representative of Colombia to the Italian Republic and was in charge, before the mission to the FAO was revived, of the functions in that organization. .
“I thank President @petrogustavo for his appointment as Ambassador of Colombia to the @FAO. Food, agrarian reform and agriculture are fundamental issues in the Government’s policies that do not allow minor efforts and that impose great challenges,” said Benedetti.
The new diplomat explained what his functions and objectives will be before the United Nations agency that seeks to achieve food security in the world, through the promotion of access to sufficient and good quality food.
“For @FAO, Colombia is on the front line of attention for Latin American countries. I will seek to materialize the agreement signed by the President and Director of FAO to strengthen cooperation, advance the fight against hunger and promote prosperous rural societies,” said the former senator.
On January 25, 2023, during the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) that took place in Argentina, President Petro signed an agreement with Qu Dongyu, director of the FAO, to generate sustainable food systems and a sustainable agriculture.
The national government indicated after the signing of the expression of intent signed by the president with the FAO, that it would prioritize the commitments, because they are in line with the rural reform that it proposes to implement and also develops the first point of the peace agreement with the FARC.
This commitment established advancing actions for food security in the territories on the border between Colombia and Venezuela, mainly in the departments of Arauca, Boyacá, Cesar, Guainía, La Guajira, Norte de Santander and Vichada.
Precisely, Benedetti’s previous position in the Government was to lead the Colombian embassy in Caracas to resume relations, reopen the border and promote agreements with that country under the regime of Nicolás Maduro.
“Likewise, we will lead the management of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Program (WFP), key organizations in the policies of President @petrogustavo, especially those aimed at reducing hunger and rural poverty,” he stated. the Colombian ambassador in this regard.
Benedetti, who has been questioned by the union of career Foreign Ministry officials, reaffirmed that he has experience in the matters he will take on as ambassador.
“From the @SenadoGovCo I led important initiatives to guarantee the human right to adequate food and nutrition. It is not only about ensuring the availability of food, but also its quality, and responding to the more than 2 million households that do not eat 3 times a day,” said the representative.
What has surprised about Benedetti’s appointment is the speed of the entire process. On February 6, the decree was signed, the last issued by Foreign Minister Álvaro Leyva before complying with the suspension imposed by the Attorney General’s Office, and just two days later he presented credentials. For example, the ambassador to Italy was sworn in before the president on October 20, 2022 and it was not until November 2 that she arrived in Rome.
Although the position means his return to the Petro Government, Benedetti pointed out, in a message addressed to W Radio, that the embassy in the FAO “is not what I would have wanted, but it is the best”, because it is attributed to the electoral achievement of the Pact. Historic, both in Congress and in the Presidency. With Infobae