Despite all the questions and criticisms, Armando Benedetti is once again an ambassador of Colombia. This February 8, he officially took office as the new head of the diplomatic mission to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
(You can read: ‘The UN Verification Mission lost sight of its mandate’: Sergio Jaramillo)
Benedetti comes to that position due to a Presidential directive and does not necessarily have the approval of the Foreign Ministry. Inside the San Carlos Palace there is general annoyance at bringing the former senator back to a diplomatic position.
Despite this, the suspended chancellor signed the decree on February 6 authorizing the appointment, which became fully official this Thursday with the inauguration that took place in Italy.
Armando Benedetti, former ambassador to Venezuela.
Photo:
Sergio Acero Yate / El Tiempo
His return to the government of President Gustavo Petro has raised doubts about how much salary he will receive now that he assumes this job.
When he was ambassador to Venezuela, Benedetti received an estimated 31,200,000 pesos monthly without taking into account the special bonus which, according to current regulations, is 21,811,800 pesos.
Now, as ambassador to the FAO, he will earn 27,684,000 pesos plus the monthly bonus of almost 22 million pesos. That is, per month he will be receiving an estimated 49 million pesos.
(You can read: President Gustavo Petro speaks out after Leyva’s announcement to leave office)
Photo:
Twitter: @AABenedetti
“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 for minor efforts and that impose great challenges,” Benedetti said after his possession.
He also indicated that at FAO “Colombia is in the front line of attention of 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. “.
On the other hand, he stated that he will lead the management before the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the World Food Program (WFP).
Armando Benedetti, former Colombian ambassador to Venezuela.
“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,” he concluded.
His arrival at that embassy, however, has been surrounded by questions. From the Foreign Ministry union (Unidiplo), for example, they indicated that Benedetti does not “meet all the formal requirements to serve as ambassador.”
They also recalled the possible administrative and disciplinary offenses that the new ambassador committed while he was in that same position, but in Venezuela. “Mr. Benedetti did not demonstrate that he has sufficient capabilities to hold a diplomatic position,” said the union, which warned that it would be a “reputational risk for Colombia at the international level.”
Mr. Benedetti did not demonstrate that he had sufficient capabilities to hold a diplomatic position.
Unidiplo questioned that Colombia seeks to have a representative dedicated to the FAO when historically countries have designated the ambassador in Italy to represent the UN organizations in Rome (FAO, WFP and IFAD). For the union, the expenses that Benedetti’s presence in Italy will entail are unnecessary.
“These economic efforts could be directed towards the creation of new Colombian representations in places with pressing needs for the provision of consular services and/or diplomatic presence,” concluded Unidiplo.
Aura Saavedra
POLITICAL DRAFTING