Martha Lara
Encyclopedia
Ambassador
Martha I. Lara
is a prominent Mexican
career diplomat
and politician
.
Elected Federal Senator
for the State of Chihuahua, she served her full six-year term from 1994 to 2000, becoming President of the Senate
for the first period of ordinary sessions in 1995, and was Vice President
of the Latin American Parliament
from 1996 to 2000.
From 1994 to 2000, during her Senate mandate, Ambassador Lara was Secretary of the Foreign Affairs
Global Commission and member of the Migration, Human Rights and Northern Border Affairs Commissions. From 1998 to 2000, she was Chairwoman of the important Foreign Affairs Commission for North America.
She had an active role in the U.S.-Mexico Inter-Parliamentary Meetings since 1997, presiding the meeting held in Savannah, Georgia and co-presiding the meetings held in the States of Puebla
and Michoacan
, Mexico. She participated in the World Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in El Cairo, Egypt; in the Inter-Parliamentary Meeting of the European Union-Latin America in Caracas
, Venezuela
; and in the APEC Inter-Parliamentary Forum in Lima
, Peru
.
Within the government of the State of Chihuahua, she was both Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor from 1986 to 1992, holding the position of Governor Pro Tempore (Interim Governor) during 1991, being the first female governor in that state's history. She also served as Chair of the Censor Committee for Public Works Proposals, Alternate President of the Population State Board, President of the Editorial Board of the Department of Labor and Social Services, President of the State Program Against Cholera, Coordinator of the State Program for Political Commitment and Chair of the State Commission for the Transition of Power.
In the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she has held different posts since 1971: in the Department of Economic Affairs, the Under Secretariat of Foreign Relations and the General Directorates of the United Nations, Specialized Organizations and International Organizations. She also held the position of Deputy Mexican Representative before the Women’s Inter-American Commission of the Organization of American States, in Washington, D.C.
She has represented Mexico before relevant international forums such as the Preparation Committee of the United Nations World Conference on the Decade for Women in New York City, and Copenhagen, Denmark
; the High-Level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Group on Women's Integration to Development in Havana, Cuba
; the Permanent Conference on Women's Integration to Development in Latin America, the Commission of Labor for the Elaboration of the Preliminary Basic Plan, the Intergovernmental Regional Meeting on the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Environmental Action Plan of the Caribbean.
Her diplomatic missions abroad includes posts as Consul of Mexico in Laredo
, Houston, and El Paso
, Texas
. She has also headed the General Consulates in Seattle, Washington; Miami, Florida
; Los Angeles
, California
; and San Antonio, Texas
.
Ambassador Lara is the Secretary of Industrial Development of the State of Chihuahua. She is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Chihuahua Herald and author of the book "Chihuahua: Una Experiencia" (Chihuahua: An Experience). She is married to Pedro Sarkis, first cousin to the late Lebanese President Elias Sarkis
, and is mother of Humberto and Patricia (deceased).
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
Martha I. Lara
Lara
Lara may refer to:Places:* Lara , Venezuela* Lara, Victoria, township in Australia* Electoral district of Lara, an electoral district in Victoria, Australia* Lara, Antalya, urban district in Turkey* Lara de los Infantes in Spain...
is a prominent Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
career diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Elected Federal Senator
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
for the State of Chihuahua, she served her full six-year term from 1994 to 2000, becoming President of the Senate
Senate of Mexico
The Senate of the Republic, constitutionally Chamber of Senators of the Honorable Congress of the Union After a series of reforms during the 1990s, it is now made up of 128 senators:...
for the first period of ordinary sessions in 1995, and was Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of the Latin American Parliament
Latin American Parliament
The Latin American Parliament , is a regional, permanent organization composed by the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a consultative assembly similar to the early European Parliament...
from 1996 to 2000.
From 1994 to 2000, during her Senate mandate, Ambassador Lara was Secretary of the Foreign Affairs
Foreign relations of Mexico
The foreign relations of Mexico are directed by the President of the United Mexican States and managed through the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs...
Global Commission and member of the Migration, Human Rights and Northern Border Affairs Commissions. From 1998 to 2000, she was Chairwoman of the important Foreign Affairs Commission for North America.
She had an active role in the U.S.-Mexico Inter-Parliamentary Meetings since 1997, presiding the meeting held in Savannah, Georgia and co-presiding the meetings held in the States of Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
and Michoacan
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, Mexico. She participated in the World Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference in El Cairo, Egypt; in the Inter-Parliamentary Meeting of the European Union-Latin America in Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
; and in the APEC Inter-Parliamentary Forum in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
Within the government of the State of Chihuahua, she was both Secretary of State and Lieutenant Governor from 1986 to 1992, holding the position of Governor Pro Tempore (Interim Governor) during 1991, being the first female governor in that state's history. She also served as Chair of the Censor Committee for Public Works Proposals, Alternate President of the Population State Board, President of the Editorial Board of the Department of Labor and Social Services, President of the State Program Against Cholera, Coordinator of the State Program for Political Commitment and Chair of the State Commission for the Transition of Power.
In the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she has held different posts since 1971: in the Department of Economic Affairs, the Under Secretariat of Foreign Relations and the General Directorates of the United Nations, Specialized Organizations and International Organizations. She also held the position of Deputy Mexican Representative before the Women’s Inter-American Commission of the Organization of American States, in Washington, D.C.
She has represented Mexico before relevant international forums such as the Preparation Committee of the United Nations World Conference on the Decade for Women in New York City, and Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
; the High-Level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Group on Women's Integration to Development in Havana, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
; the Permanent Conference on Women's Integration to Development in Latin America, the Commission of Labor for the Elaboration of the Preliminary Basic Plan, the Intergovernmental Regional Meeting on the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean as well as the Intergovernmental Meeting on the Environmental Action Plan of the Caribbean.
Her diplomatic missions abroad includes posts as Consul of Mexico in Laredo
Laredo, Texas
Laredo is the county seat of Webb County, Texas, United States, located on the north bank of the Rio Grande in South Texas, across from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 236,091 making it the 3rd largest on the United States-Mexican border,...
, Houston, and El Paso
El Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. She has also headed the General Consulates in Seattle, Washington; Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
; Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; and San Antonio, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
Ambassador Lara is the Secretary of Industrial Development of the State of Chihuahua. She is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Chihuahua Herald and author of the book "Chihuahua: Una Experiencia" (Chihuahua: An Experience). She is married to Pedro Sarkis, first cousin to the late Lebanese President Elias Sarkis
Elias Sarkis
Elias Sarkis was the President of the Lebanese Republic from 1976 to 1982.-Early career:Born in Shabbaniah, Sarkis graduated with a Law degree from Saint Joseph University in 1948. After joining the judicial corps in 1953, he became a judge with the Accounting Department...
, and is mother of Humberto and Patricia (deceased).