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Ricardo Alarcón

April 14, 2024

For the Uruguayan businessman, see Ricardo Alarcón (businessman).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Alarcón and the second or maternal family name is de Quesada.

Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada (21 May 1937 – 30 April 2022) was a Cuban politician. He served as his country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) for nearly 30 years and later served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1993. Subsequently, Alarcón was President of the National Assembly of People's Power from 1993 to 2013, and because of this post, was considered the third-most powerful figure in Cuba.[1] He was also until 2013 a Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba.[2]

Ricardo Alarcón
Alarcón in 2008
President of the National Assembly of People's Power
In office
24 February 1993 – 24 February 2013
Vice PresidentJaime Alberto Hernandez-Baquero Crombet
Preceded byJuan Escalona Reguera
Succeeded byEsteban Lazo
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
1992–1993
PremierFidel Castro
Preceded byIsidoro Malmierca Peoli
Succeeded byRoberto Robaina
Personal details
Born
Ricardo Alarcón de Quesada

(1937-05-21)21 May 1937
Havana, Cuba
Died30 April 2022(2022-04-30) (aged 84)
Havana, Cuba
Political partyCommunist Party of Cuba
ProfessionCivil servant

A graduate of the University of Havana with a doctorate in philosophy, he served in various diplomatic posts following the Cuban Revolution. His first foreign-policy post was Head of the Americas Division in Cuba's Foreign Ministry. During his tenure as Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alarcón held several prominent offices, such as President of the Security Council and Vice-President of the General Assembly.

Early life edit

Alarcón was born in Havana on 21 May 1937. He entered the University of Havana in 1954 and graduated with a degree as a Doctor of Philosophy and Humanities.[3] Alarcón became active in the Federation of University Students (FEU), serving as the secretary of culture for the FEU from 1955 to 1956. Alarcón became active in Castro's 26th of July Movement, which was attempting to oust President Fulgencio Batista, in July 1955. Alarcón assisted in the organization of the student apparatus of the guerrilla organization's youth brigade. Alarcón was elected the FEU's Vice President in 1959, and served as the President of the Student Organization from 1961 to 1962. However, unlike the Castros, Alarcón was active in the urban underground resistance, and not the guerrilla movement located in the countryside.[4]

In 1962, the new Castro-led government appointed Alarcón as the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Americas division, where he began his diplomatic career. Between 1966 and 1978, he served as Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Vice-President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, President of the Council of Administration to the United Nations Development Programme, and Vice-President of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. In 1978, Alarcón was promoted to first vice-minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[5] While serving as Permanent Representative to the UN for a second time, Alarcón was President of the Security Council in February 1990 and July 1991.[6] In 1992, he was made Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in February 1993, he became the President of the National Assembly.[5]

Career edit

President of the National Assembly (1993–2013) edit

Alarcón took over the office of President of the National Assembly of People's Power in 1993 in what Ben Corbett, a historian, considered a "demotion" from his earlier post as Minister of Foreign Affairs.[7] However, William E. Ratliff and Roger W. Fontaine, in their book, A Strategic Flip-flop in the Caribbean: Lift the Embargo on Cuba, ranks Alarcón as having been the third-most powerful figure in Cuba.[8]

One year after taking office, Alarcón travelled to the United States as the head of a five-member delegation to talk about the migration issues between the two countries. In a government statement, Alarcón was described as the "best qualified" to deal with such delicate issues as emigration, and his knowledge of the "fundamental causes" to mass emigration from Cuba. Alarcón, along with the Cuban government, believed that the United States economic embargo against Cuba was the main culprit for mass emigration from the country.[9] The negotiations were suspended for a while when he abruptly travelled to Cuba to discuss the situation with the Cuban government.[10] After his abrupt return trip to Cuba, he came back to the United States and continued the negotiations. When he returned to the United States, he was more positive in tone, and several Cuban officials told the media that an agreement could be reached.[11] Alarcón was able to reach an agreement with the United States Government on 9 September 1994, and the United States promised to issue at least 20,000 immigrant visas a year for Cuban citizens seeking to leave their homeland.[12]

In August 2000, Alarcón was involved in a minor dispute with the United States when he was denied a visa to attend an international conference in New York City. Alarcón lived in Manhattan for over twelve years, but because of his status as a Cuban government official, he was only allowed within a 25-mile radius of the United Nations.[13]

On 2 December 2003, United States Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John R. Bolton charged that Cuba, along with Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Libya, were "rogue states...whose pursuit of weapons of mass destruction makes them hostile to U.S. interests [and who] will learn that their covert programs will not escape either detection or consequences." In response, Alarcón called Bolton "a liar" and cited U.S. claims pertaining to Iraq's weapons of mass destruction in justification of the Iraq War which were later found to be incorrect.[14]

In 2006, Alarcón stated: "At some moment, US rhetoric changed to talk of democracy... For me, the starting point is the recognition that democracy should begin with Pericles's definition – that society is for the benefit of the majority – and should not be imposed from outside."[15] During Fidel Castro's transfer of presidential duties to his brother Raúl Castro, Alarcón told the foreign media that Fidel would be fit to run for re-election to the assembly in January 2008 parliamentary election.[16] However, in an interview with the CNN, Alarcón said he was unsure if Fidel would accept the post or not.[17] Alarcón, in an interview on the topic on who would succeed Fidel Castro, said; "All those who have been trying to fool the world and put out the idea that something terrible would happen in Cuba, that people would take to the streets, that there would be great instability, the door slammed on them and they must have very swollen hands now".[18]

Later life and death edit

Alarcón was married to Margarita Perea Maza. She died on 9 February 2008.[19] Alarcón died at the age of 84 on 30 April 2022, his family confirmed. No cause of death was immediately given.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ "Cuba parliament opens as Fidel Castro visits". BBC World Service. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  2. ^ Cuba removes Ricardo Alarcon from top Communist body
  3. ^ Lamrani, Salim; Alarcón, Ricardo (2005). United States Against Cuba: The War on Terrorism and the Five Case. Editorial El Viejo Topo. p. 197. ISBN 978-84-96356-37-5.
  4. ^ Bardach, Ann Louise (2009). Without Fidel: A Death Foretold in Miami, Havana, and Washington. Vol. 3. Simon & Schuster. p. 205. ISBN 978-1-4165-5150-8.
  5. ^ a b Profile at Cuban parliament website (in Spanish).
  6. ^ "Presidents of the Security Council : 1990-1999" 18 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine, UN.org.
  7. ^ Corbett, Ben (2004). This Is Cuba: An Outlaw Culture Survives. Basic Books. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-8133-4224-5.
  8. ^ Ratliff, William E.; Fontaine, Roger W. (2000). A Strategic Flip-flop in the Caribbean: Lift the Embargo on Cuba. Hoover Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-8179-4352-3.
  9. ^ Staff writer (31 August 1994). "Flight from Cuba; Cuba Names Leader For Talks With U.S." The New York Times. New York City, New York. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  10. ^ Lewis, Paul (8 September 1994). "U.S.-Cuban Talks Suspended As Envoy Returns to Havana". The New York Times. New York City, New York. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  11. ^ Golden, Tim (9 September 1994). "Cuba, in Shift, Says Deal Can Be Reached With the U.S." The New York Times. New York City, New York. p. 1. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  12. ^ Golden, Tim (22 September 1994). "Cuban Official Criticizes Lag By the U.S. in Issuing Visas". The New York Times. New York City, New York. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  13. ^ Staff writer (29 August 2000). "Cuban politician denied US visa". London, United Kingdom: BBC Online. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  14. ^ Staff writer (31 December 2003). "Cuban leader sees invasion risk as 'real'". The New York Times. New York City, New York. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  15. ^ Campbell, Duncan (3 August 2006). "Propaganda war grips a land crippled by shortages". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  16. ^ Staff writer (15 March 2007). "Castro 'to be fit to hold power'". London, United Kingdom: BBC Online. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  17. ^ Lacey, Marc (23 January 2008). "The Americas; Cuba: Will Castro Return?". The New York Times. New York City, New York. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  18. ^ Miller, Jimmy (8 August 2008). "Succession talk fuels the Cuban rumour mill". The Telegraph. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 17 February 2011.
  19. ^ The Miami Herald; "Wife of Cuban Official Dies After Long Illness"; 12 February 2008, Page 7A
  20. ^ "Ricardo Alarcón, key player in Cuba-U.S. relations, dies at 84". NBC News.

Further reading edit

  • Ricardo Alarcón and Reinaldo Suarez, Cuba y Su Democracia (Editorial de Ciencias Sociales 2004) ISBN 987-1158-06-8
  • Fidel Castro and Ricardo Alarcón, EE.UU. fuera del oriente medio (Pathfinder Press 2001) ISBN 0-87348-625-0
  • Ricardo Alarcón and Mary Murray, Cuba and the United States: an interview with Cuban Foreign Minister, Ricardo Alaron (Ocean Press 1992) ISBN 1-875284-69-9

External links edit

  • Ricardo Alarcón Archive at marxists.org
  • Official Biography – Cuban Communist Party
  • Official Biography – Cuban National Assembly
  • Appearances on C-SPAN
Political offices
Preceded by Foreign Minister of Cuba
1992–1993 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Juan Escalona Reguera
 President of Cuban National Assembly
1993–2013 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
?
 Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations
1966–1992 		Succeeded by

April 14, 2024
ricardo, alarcón, uruguayan, businessman, businessman, this, spanish, name, first, paternal, surname, alarcón, second, maternal, family, name, quesada, quesada, 1937, april, 2022, cuban, politician, served, country, permanent, representative, united, nations, . For the Uruguayan businessman see Ricardo Alarcon businessman In this Spanish name the first or paternal surname is Alarcon and the second or maternal family name is de Quesada Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada 21 May 1937 30 April 2022 was a Cuban politician He served as his country s Permanent Representative to the United Nations UN for nearly 30 years and later served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1992 to 1993 Subsequently Alarcon was President of the National Assembly of People s Power from 1993 to 2013 and because of this post was considered the third most powerful figure in Cuba 1 He was also until 2013 a Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba 2 Ricardo AlarconAlarcon in 2008President of the National Assembly of People s PowerIn office 24 February 1993 24 February 2013Vice PresidentJaime Alberto Hernandez Baquero CrombetPreceded byJuan Escalona RegueraSucceeded byEsteban LazoMinister of Foreign AffairsIn office 1992 1993PremierFidel CastroPreceded byIsidoro Malmierca PeoliSucceeded byRoberto RobainaPersonal detailsBornRicardo Alarcon de Quesada 1937 05 21 21 May 1937Havana CubaDied30 April 2022 2022 04 30 aged 84 Havana CubaPolitical partyCommunist Party of CubaProfessionCivil servantA graduate of the University of Havana with a doctorate in philosophy he served in various diplomatic posts following the Cuban Revolution His first foreign policy post was Head of the Americas Division in Cuba s Foreign Ministry During his tenure as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Alarcon held several prominent offices such as President of the Security Council and Vice President of the General Assembly Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 President of the National Assembly 1993 2013 3 Later life and death 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksEarly life editAlarcon was born in Havana on 21 May 1937 He entered the University of Havana in 1954 and graduated with a degree as a Doctor of Philosophy and Humanities 3 Alarcon became active in the Federation of University Students FEU serving as the secretary of culture for the FEU from 1955 to 1956 Alarcon became active in Castro s 26th of July Movement which was attempting to oust President Fulgencio Batista in July 1955 Alarcon assisted in the organization of the student apparatus of the guerrilla organization s youth brigade Alarcon was elected the FEU s Vice President in 1959 and served as the President of the Student Organization from 1961 to 1962 However unlike the Castros Alarcon was active in the urban underground resistance and not the guerrilla movement located in the countryside 4 In 1962 the new Castro led government appointed Alarcon as the Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Americas division where he began his diplomatic career Between 1966 and 1978 he served as Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations Vice President of the General Assembly of the United Nations President of the Council of Administration to the United Nations Development Programme and Vice President of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People In 1978 Alarcon was promoted to first vice minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 5 While serving as Permanent Representative to the UN for a second time Alarcon was President of the Security Council in February 1990 and July 1991 6 In 1992 he was made Minister of Foreign Affairs and in February 1993 he became the President of the National Assembly 5 Career editPresident of the National Assembly 1993 2013 edit Alarcon took over the office of President of the National Assembly of People s Power in 1993 in what Ben Corbett a historian considered a demotion from his earlier post as Minister of Foreign Affairs 7 However William E Ratliff and Roger W Fontaine in their book A Strategic Flip flop in the Caribbean Lift the Embargo on Cuba ranks Alarcon as having been the third most powerful figure in Cuba 8 One year after taking office Alarcon travelled to the United States as the head of a five member delegation to talk about the migration issues between the two countries In a government statement Alarcon was described as the best qualified to deal with such delicate issues as emigration and his knowledge of the fundamental causes to mass emigration from Cuba Alarcon along with the Cuban government believed that the United States economic embargo against Cuba was the main culprit for mass emigration from the country 9 The negotiations were suspended for a while when he abruptly travelled to Cuba to discuss the situation with the Cuban government 10 After his abrupt return trip to Cuba he came back to the United States and continued the negotiations When he returned to the United States he was more positive in tone and several Cuban officials told the media that an agreement could be reached 11 Alarcon was able to reach an agreement with the United States Government on 9 September 1994 and the United States promised to issue at least 20 000 immigrant visas a year for Cuban citizens seeking to leave their homeland 12 In August 2000 Alarcon was involved in a minor dispute with the United States when he was denied a visa to attend an international conference in New York City Alarcon lived in Manhattan for over twelve years but because of his status as a Cuban government official he was only allowed within a 25 mile radius of the United Nations 13 On 2 December 2003 United States Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security John R Bolton charged that Cuba along with Iran North Korea Syria and Libya were rogue states whose pursuit of weapons of mass destruction makes them hostile to U S interests and who will learn that their covert programs will not escape either detection or consequences In response Alarcon called Bolton a liar and cited U S claims pertaining to Iraq s weapons of mass destruction in justification of the Iraq War which were later found to be incorrect 14 In 2006 Alarcon stated At some moment US rhetoric changed to talk of democracy For me the starting point is the recognition that democracy should begin with Pericles s definition that society is for the benefit of the majority and should not be imposed from outside 15 During Fidel Castro s transfer of presidential duties to his brother Raul Castro Alarcon told the foreign media that Fidel would be fit to run for re election to the assembly in January 2008 parliamentary election 16 However in an interview with the CNN Alarcon said he was unsure if Fidel would accept the post or not 17 Alarcon in an interview on the topic on who would succeed Fidel Castro said All those who have been trying to fool the world and put out the idea that something terrible would happen in Cuba that people would take to the streets that there would be great instability the door slammed on them and they must have very swollen hands now 18 Later life and death editAlarcon was married to Margarita Perea Maza She died on 9 February 2008 19 Alarcon died at the age of 84 on 30 April 2022 his family confirmed No cause of death was immediately given 20 References edit Cuba parliament opens as Fidel Castro visits BBC World Service 24 February 2013 Retrieved 24 February 2013 Cuba removes Ricardo Alarcon from top Communist body Lamrani Salim Alarcon Ricardo 2005 United States Against Cuba The War on Terrorism and the Five Case Editorial El Viejo Topo p 197 ISBN 978 84 96356 37 5 Bardach Ann Louise 2009 Without Fidel A Death Foretold in Miami Havana and Washington Vol 3 Simon amp Schuster p 205 ISBN 978 1 4165 5150 8 a b Profile at Cuban parliament website in Spanish Presidents of the Security Council 1990 1999 Archived 18 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine UN org Corbett Ben 2004 This Is Cuba An Outlaw Culture Survives Basic Books p 256 ISBN 978 0 8133 4224 5 Ratliff William E Fontaine Roger W 2000 A Strategic Flip flop in the Caribbean Lift the Embargo on Cuba Hoover Press p 68 ISBN 978 0 8179 4352 3 Staff writer 31 August 1994 Flight from Cuba Cuba Names Leader For Talks With U S The New York Times New York City New York Retrieved 17 February 2011 Lewis Paul 8 September 1994 U S Cuban Talks Suspended As Envoy Returns to Havana The New York Times New York City New York Retrieved 17 February 2011 Golden Tim 9 September 1994 Cuba in Shift Says Deal Can Be Reached With the U S The New York Times New York City New York p 1 Retrieved 17 February 2011 Golden Tim 22 September 1994 Cuban Official Criticizes Lag By the U S in Issuing Visas The New York Times New York City New York Retrieved 17 February 2011 Staff writer 29 August 2000 Cuban politician denied US visa London United Kingdom BBC Online Retrieved 17 February 2011 Staff writer 31 December 2003 Cuban leader sees invasion risk as real The New York Times New York City New York Retrieved 17 February 2011 Campbell Duncan 3 August 2006 Propaganda war grips a land crippled by shortages The Guardian London United Kingdom Retrieved 17 February 2011 Staff writer 15 March 2007 Castro to be fit to hold power London United Kingdom BBC Online Retrieved 17 February 2011 Lacey Marc 23 January 2008 The Americas Cuba Will Castro Return The New York Times New York City New York Retrieved 17 February 2011 Miller Jimmy 8 August 2008 Succession talk fuels the Cuban rumour mill The Telegraph London United Kingdom Retrieved 17 February 2011 The Miami Herald Wife of Cuban Official Dies After Long Illness 12 February 2008 Page 7A Ricardo Alarcon key player in Cuba U S relations dies at 84 NBC News Further reading editRicardo Alarcon and Reinaldo Suarez Cuba y Su Democracia Editorial de Ciencias Sociales 2004 ISBN 987 1158 06 8 Fidel Castro and Ricardo Alarcon EE UU fuera del oriente medio Pathfinder Press 2001 ISBN 0 87348 625 0 Ricardo Alarcon and Mary Murray Cuba and the United States an interview with Cuban Foreign Minister Ricardo Alaron Ocean Press 1992 ISBN 1 875284 69 9External links edit nbsp Cuba portal nbsp Politics portalRicardo Alarcon Archive at marxists org Official Biography Cuban Communist Party Official Biography Cuban National Assembly Appearances on C SPANPolitical officesPreceded byIsidoro Malmierca Peoli Foreign Minister of Cuba1992 1993 Succeeded byRoberto Robaina GonzalezPreceded byJuan Escalona Reguera President of Cuban National Assembly1993 2013 Succeeded byEsteban Lazo HernandezDiplomatic postsPreceded by Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations1966 1992 Succeeded byAlcibiades Hidalgo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ricardo Alarcon amp oldid 1167025892, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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