Nicanor Costa Méndez

Nicanor Costa Méndez
Nicanor Costa Méndez during the Falklands War.

Nicanor Costa Méndez (October 30, 1922 – August 3, 1992) was an Argentine diplomat.

Costa Méndez was born into a privileged background in Buenos Aires, in 1922. He attended the University of Buenos Aires, graduating with a Law Degree in 1943. He went on to receive his juris doctor and opened a law practice.[1]

He served as the Argentine ambassador to Chile between 1962 and 1964 and as Foreign Minister for President Juan Carlos Onganía, from 1966 to 1969.[2] An avowed anti-Communist, Costa Méndez favored close ties with the United States.[1]

Costa Méndez returned to the Foreign Ministry under a later dictator, Gen. Leopoldo Galtieri, at the end of 1981, and remained in the post during the April-June 1982 Falklands War between the United Kingdom and Argentina.[3] President Galtieri, a significant supporter of the Contras during the Nicaraguan Civil War, believed that support would be forthcoming from Reagan administration; when the United States and Western Europe sided with Britain during the conflict, however, Costa Méndez sought the support of the Communist bloc, flying to Cuba to attend a meeting of Non-aligned nations and to confer with President Fidel Castro.[1]

During meetings at the time of the United Nations Security Council and the Organization of American States, Costa Méndez depicted United States support for Britain in the Falklands War as a "betrayal to the rest of the Americas," and following Argentine surrender on June 14, Galtieri and his Foreign Minister were removed.[1]

Costa Méndez's duplicity in his capacity as both the nation's chief diplomat and the junta's leading civilian adviser was highlighted by a local, 1983 official board of inquiry. The report documented that Costa Méndez had assured Galtieri that the United States would remain neutral in the event of war, despite an explicit message to the contrary from the American Secretary of State, Alexander Haig (by then, the British Royal Navy was advancing toward the islands).[1]

In popular culture

Costa Méndez was portrayed by Vernon Dobtcheff in the 2002 BBC production of Ian Curteis's controversial The Falklands Play.

References

This South American diplomat-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Nicanor Costa Méndez — Conferencia de prensa de Costa Méndez durante la Guerra de Malvinas. Nicanor Costa Méndez (n. 30 de octubre de 1922 † 3 de agosto de 1992), político y diplomático argentino, que ocupó el Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto de su país… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Mendez/Mendes — Méndez (in the Spanish form) or Mendes (in the Portuguese form) is a common surname, originally a patronymic, meaning Son of Mendo or Son of Mem. It may refer to: Contents 1 People 1.1 General …   Wikipedia

  • Nicanor — or Nikanor is the name of: Contents 1 People 1.1 Ancient history 1.2 Modern period …   Wikipedia

  • Liste der Außenminister Argentiniens — Liste der Canciller (Außenminister) Argentiniens seit 1822: Minister Anfang Ende Bernardino Rivadavia 5. Februar 1822 24. Mai 1824 Manuel José García 24. Mai 1824 10. Februar 1826 Francisco De la Cruz 10. Februar 1826 7. Juli 1826 Manuel Dorrego… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Liste der Canciller Argentiniens — Liste der Canciller (Außenminister) Argentiniens seit 1822: Minister Anfang Ende Bernardino Rivadavia 5. Februar 1822 24. Mai 1824 Manuel José García 24. Mai 1824 10. Februar 1826 Francisco De la Cruz 10. Februar 1826 7. Juli 1826 Manuel Dorrego… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores — Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto de la República Argentina Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Internacional y Culto …   Wikipedia Español

  • Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship — List of Foreign Affairs Ministers of Argentina, since 1822. The current Chancellor (holder of this office) is Héctor Timerman. Minister Began Ended Bernardino Rivadavia February 5, 1822 May 24, 1824 Manuel José García May 24, 1824 February 10,… …   Wikipedia

  • Historia de las islas Malvinas — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Mapa de las islas Malvinas, con la toponimia argentina. Las islas Malvinas son un archipiélago ubicado en el mar Argentino, en el océano Atlántico Sur, a una distancia mínima de la Patagonia d …   Wikipedia Español

  • Historia de las Islas Malvinas — Este artículo o sección puede ser demasiado extenso(a). Algunos navegadores pueden tener dificultades al mostrar este artículo. Por favor, considera separar cada sección por artículos independientes, y luego resumir las secciones presentes en… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Guerre des Malouines — Une carte des mouvements des flottes britanniques et argentines Informations générales Date du 2 avril  …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”