Simón Alberto Consalvi
Encyclopedia
Simón Alberto Consalvi is a Venezuela
n politician, journalist, diplomat and historian. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela on two occasions (1977-1979/1985-1988), Minister of Interior and Justice (1988–1989), Secretary of the Presidency (1988), and also held several Ambassadorships. A journalist and author of many books, he has been member of the National Academy of History since 1997, and Associate Editor of the daily El Nacional
.
, graduates in Caracas as journalist at the Central University of Venezuela
. In the 1950s, is part of the clandestine youth of party Acción Democrática against the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez
, exiling in Cuba in 1955, being imprisoned some months during the government of Fulgencio Batista
. On 20 December 1958, married with Josefina Carrero Prato, also during this year was elected as deputy for Mérida to the National Congress. Between 1965-1966, was director of the Central Office of Information (OCI), in the administration of Raúl Leoni
.
By his initiative, in 1965 founded the cultural magazine Imagen, achieving after that, the creation of the state-owned publishing house Monte Ávila Editores
in 1968, also during this decade was director of the National Institute of Culture and Fine Arts (INCIBA). He also graduated from the School of International Affairs of the Columbia University
.
as Minister of Foreign Affairs remaining until 1979, during this period signs in 1978, the threats of delimitation of marine and submarine areas with Netherlands, Dominican Republic
and the United States.
Between 1984 to 1985, is in charge of the Secretary of Presidency, during the administration of Jaime Lusinchi
. In 1985, is reappointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, facing in 1987 the Corbeta Caldas incident, when a Colombian vessel refused to leave disputed water arguing that those waters were part of Colombia
. During the last year of Jaime Lusinchi at the presidency (1988–1989), Consalvi served as Home Affairs Minister. Consalvi was ambassador of Venezuela in Yugoslavia
, United States (1989–1994), and the United Nations
, being representative at the Security Council.
.
Since 2005, he has been in charge of the Venezuelan Biographical Library (Biblioteca Biográfica Venezolana) a series of biographies of Venezuelans published by El Nacional. In this collection, Consalvi has been the author of the biographies of Rómulo Gallegos
(2006), Juan Vicente Gómez
(2007), and José Rafael Pocaterra (2009). He has been also the author of the biography of George Washington
(2000), for the General History of America.
In 2007 he published 1957: el año en que los venezolanos perdieron el miedo, an essay book that portraits the political and social crisis of Venezuela during the last year of the dictatorship of Pérez Jiménez. In 2009, he presented La Guerra de los Compadres, reflecting the era of Cipriano Castro
and Juan Vicente Gómez.
Since 2008, Consalvi is part, along with other Venezuelan intellectuals and artists, of the Movimiento 2D
(2 December Movement).
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...
n politician, journalist, diplomat and historian. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela on two occasions (1977-1979/1985-1988), Minister of Interior and Justice (1988–1989), Secretary of the Presidency (1988), and also held several Ambassadorships. A journalist and author of many books, he has been member of the National Academy of History since 1997, and Associate Editor of the daily El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
.
Background and early career
Being born in Santa Cruz de Mora, a town of the Andean state of MéridaMérida (state)
Mérida State is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. The state capital is Mérida.Mérida State covers a total surface area of 11,300 km² and, in 2007, had an estimated population of 843,800.- Climate and Vegetation :...
, graduates in Caracas as journalist at the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
. In the 1950s, is part of the clandestine youth of party Acción Democrática against the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Pérez Jiménez
Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was a soldier and Presidents of Venezuela from 1952 to 1958.-Career:Marcos Evangelista Pérez Jiménez was born in Michelena, Táchira State. His father, Juan Pérez Bustamante, was a farmer; his mother, Adela Jiménez, a schoolteacher...
, exiling in Cuba in 1955, being imprisoned some months during the government of Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
. On 20 December 1958, married with Josefina Carrero Prato, also during this year was elected as deputy for Mérida to the National Congress. Between 1965-1966, was director of the Central Office of Information (OCI), in the administration of Raúl Leoni
Raúl Leoni
Raúl Leoni Otero was President of Venezuela from 1964 until 1969. He fought against the dictators Juan Vicente Gómez and Marcos Pérez Jiménez, and was a charter member of the Acción Democrática party....
.
By his initiative, in 1965 founded the cultural magazine Imagen, achieving after that, the creation of the state-owned publishing house Monte Ávila Editores
Monte Ávila Editores
Monte Ávila Editores is the largest and most important publishing house in Venezuela. Between 1980 and 2000 it published over 300 titles, largely by Venezuelan authors, producing over 1.2m copies....
in 1968, also during this decade was director of the National Institute of Culture and Fine Arts (INCIBA). He also graduated from the School of International Affairs of the Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
.
Political career
In 1977 Consalvi was designated by President Carlos Andrés PérezCarlos Andrés Pérez
Carlos Andrés Pérez Rodríguez , also known as CAP and often referred to as El Gocho , was a Venezuelan politician, President of Venezuela from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1989 to 1993. His first presidency was known as the Saudi Venezuela due to its economic and social prosperity thanks to...
as Minister of Foreign Affairs remaining until 1979, during this period signs in 1978, the threats of delimitation of marine and submarine areas with Netherlands, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
and the United States.
Between 1984 to 1985, is in charge of the Secretary of Presidency, during the administration of Jaime Lusinchi
Jaime Lusinchi
Jaime Ramón Lusinchi is a Venezuelan politician who was the President of Venezuela from 1984 to 1989. His term was characterized by an economic crisis, growth of the External debt, populist policies, currency depreciation, inflation and corruption that exacerbated the crisis of the political...
. In 1985, is reappointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, facing in 1987 the Corbeta Caldas incident, when a Colombian vessel refused to leave disputed water arguing that those waters were part of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. During the last year of Jaime Lusinchi at the presidency (1988–1989), Consalvi served as Home Affairs Minister. Consalvi was ambassador of Venezuela in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, United States (1989–1994), and the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, being representative at the Security Council.
Journalist and author
In 1992, besides political and journalistic work, Consalvi wrote his first short stories book, entitled Lascivia Brevis. In 1997 he became a member of the Venezuelan Academy of History, and started a Sunday column at the daily El NacionalEl Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
.
Since 2005, he has been in charge of the Venezuelan Biographical Library (Biblioteca Biográfica Venezolana) a series of biographies of Venezuelans published by El Nacional. In this collection, Consalvi has been the author of the biographies of Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Gallegos
Rómulo Ángel del Monte Carmelo Gallegos Freire was a Venezuelan novelist and politician. For a period of some nine months during 1948, he was the first cleanly elected president in his country's history....
(2006), Juan Vicente Gómez
Juan Vicente Gómez
Juan Vicente Gómez Chacón was a military general and de facto ruler of Venezuela from 1908 until his death in 1935. He was president on three occasions during this time, and ruled as an unelected military strongman for the rest of the era.-Early years:Gómez was a barely literate cattle herder and...
(2007), and José Rafael Pocaterra (2009). He has been also the author of the biography of George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
(2000), for the General History of America.
In 2007 he published 1957: el año en que los venezolanos perdieron el miedo, an essay book that portraits the political and social crisis of Venezuela during the last year of the dictatorship of Pérez Jiménez. In 2009, he presented La Guerra de los Compadres, reflecting the era of Cipriano Castro
Cipriano Castro
José Cipriano Castro Ruiz was a high ranking member of the Venezuelan military, politician and the President of Venezuela from 1899 to 1908...
and Juan Vicente Gómez.
Since 2008, Consalvi is part, along with other Venezuelan intellectuals and artists, of the Movimiento 2D
Movimiento 2D
The Movimiento 2D is a Venezuelan opposition movement led by El Nacional editor and proprietor Miguel Henrique Otero...
(2 December Movement).
Partial bibliography
- “La Paz Nuclear” (1988)
- “1989 / Diario de Washington” (1990)
- “Pedro Manuel Arcaya y la crisis de los años 30” (1991)
- “Auge y caída de Rómulo Gallegos” (1991)
- “Lascivia Brevis” (1992)
- “Grover Cleveland y la controversia Venezuela-Gran Bretaña” (1992)
- “Los Gómez de Zapata” (1993)
- “Profecía de la palabra” (1996)
- “El perfil y la sombra” (1997)
- “Las relaciones Venezuela-Estados Unidos en la primera mitad del siglo XX” (2000)
- “Profecía de la palabra, Vida y Obra de Mariano Picón Salas” (2001)
- “El Precio de la Historia” (2001)
- “Historia de las relaciones exteriores de Venezuela, 1810-2000” (2001)
- “Reflexiones sobre la Historia de Venezuela” (2002)
- “Augusto Mijares, el pensador y su tiempo” (2003)
- “El carrusel de las discordias” (2003)
- “El petróleo en Venezuela” (2004)
- “1957: el año en que los venezolanos perdieron el miedo” (2007)
- “La Guerra de los Compadres” (2009)
- “La Revolución de Octubre” (2010)
See also
- VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , 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...
- El NacionalEl NacionalEl Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
- Monte Ávila EditoresMonte Ávila EditoresMonte Ávila Editores is the largest and most important publishing house in Venezuela. Between 1980 and 2000 it published over 300 titles, largely by Venezuelan authors, producing over 1.2m copies....
- List of Venezuelan writers