Paulo Tarso Flecha de Lima
Encyclopedia
Paulo Tarso Flecha de Lima (born 8 July 1933) is a retired Brazil
ian diplomat. He was the ambassador of Brazil to the United Kingdom
, the United States
and to Italy
and was also secretary general of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, before retiring in 2001, after forty-six years in the diplomatic service.
His wife, Lucia, was Secretary of Tourism of the Federal District but is better known as a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales
.
, Flecha de Lima joined the Brazilian diplomatic service in 1955. Early in his career he was a member of the staff of President Juscelino Kubitschek. In 1971, he was appointed head of the government's Department of Trade Promotion. He spent most of his overseas career on the "Elizabeth Arden circuit", high-status capital cities such as Rome
, Paris
, London
and Washington, D.C.
. From 1985 to 1990 he was secretary general of the Foreign Ministry in Brasilia
.
In August 1990, Flecha de Lima was on holiday in southern France when he was commissioned to conduct negotiations on behalf of his government for the release of some five hundred Brazilians living in Iraq
. Saddam Hussein
had threatened to use them as human shields to prevent an attack by the United States and its allies which later became known as the Gulf War
. Flecha de Lima successfully negotiated in English with Hussein Kamel al-Majid, Minister of Military Production and son in law of Saddam Hussein, and with Iraqi vice-presidents Sabri Hamadi and Taha Yassin Ramadan
.
From 1990 to 1993 Flecha de Lima was Brazilian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, then from 12 November 1993 to 26 May 1999 he was Ambassador to the United States
, suffering a brain haemorrhage while in post. He then went to Rome
for his final overseas posting as Ambassador to Italy.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian diplomat. He was the ambassador of Brazil to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and was also secretary general of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, before retiring in 2001, after forty-six years in the diplomatic service.
His wife, Lucia, was Secretary of Tourism of the Federal District but is better known as a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
.
Life
Born in Belo HorizonteBelo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the capital of and largest city in the state of Minas Gerais, located in the southeastern region of Brazil. It is the third largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Flecha de Lima joined the Brazilian diplomatic service in 1955. Early in his career he was a member of the staff of President Juscelino Kubitschek. In 1971, he was appointed head of the government's Department of Trade Promotion. He spent most of his overseas career on the "Elizabeth Arden circuit", high-status capital cities such as Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
. From 1985 to 1990 he was secretary general of the Foreign Ministry in Brasilia
Brasília
Brasília is the capital city of Brazil. The name is commonly spelled Brasilia in English. The city and its District are located in the Central-West region of the country, along a plateau known as Planalto Central. It has a population of about 2,557,000 as of the 2008 IBGE estimate, making it the...
.
In August 1990, Flecha de Lima was on holiday in southern France when he was commissioned to conduct negotiations on behalf of his government for the release of some five hundred Brazilians living in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
had threatened to use them as human shields to prevent an attack by the United States and its allies which later became known as the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Flecha de Lima successfully negotiated in English with Hussein Kamel al-Majid, Minister of Military Production and son in law of Saddam Hussein, and with Iraqi vice-presidents Sabri Hamadi and Taha Yassin Ramadan
Taha Yassin Ramadan
Taha Yasin Ramadan al-Jizrawi was a prominent Iraqi Kurd, serving as Vice President of Iraq from March 1991 to the fall of Saddam Hussein in April 2003....
.
From 1990 to 1993 Flecha de Lima was Brazilian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, then from 12 November 1993 to 26 May 1999 he was Ambassador to the United States
Brazilian Ambassador to the United States
The following is a list of Ambassadors of Brazil, or other chiefs of mission, to the United States. The title given by the Ministry of External Relations to this position is currently "Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary" ....
, suffering a brain haemorrhage while in post. He then went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for his final overseas posting as Ambassador to Italy.