Adolfo Aguilar Zínser
Encyclopedia
Adolfo Aguilar Zínser was a Mexican
scholar, diplomat and politician who served as a National Security Advisor to President Vicente Fox
and as a UN Security Council Ambassador in the midst of the US invasion of Iraq
.
Born in Mexico City
into an upper-class family, Adolfo Aguilar was the son of Adolfo Aguilar y Quevedo a criminal lawyer and Carmen Zínser, a philanthropist. He was also the grandson of Miguel Ángel de Quevedo
El apóstol del árbol ("Apostle of trees"), considered the first environmentalist in Mexico and Ángela Quevedo de Aguilar a philanthropist
.
Aguilar studied law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
, international relations at El Colegio de México
(1972-75) and completed a master's degree in international and public affairs at Harvard University
's Kennedy School of Government (1977-78). During the early seventies he briefly subscribed to Marxist ideology, and he headed Luis Echeverría
's Center for Economic and Social Studies of the Third World during the mid-1970s.
He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies
, representing the Party of the Democratic Revolution
(PRD) in 1994 and served until 1997. From 1997 to 2000 he served in the Senate, representing the Green Ecological Party of Mexico (PVEM).
Following Vicente Fox's election to the Presidency (representing a coalition of the National Action Party
and the PVEM) on July 2, 2000, Aguilar served as the transition team's advisor on international affairs. After taking office, Fox appointed Aguilar his national security advisor.
In January 2002, Fox appointed Aguilar Mexico's permanent representative to the
United Nations
. His term coincided with Mexico's election to the Security Council
and, in accordance with the Security Council's rules of procedure, he served as its president for two one-month terms.
Following a speech to students at Mexico City's Ibero-American University on November 11, 2003, in which Aguilar claimed that the political and intellectual class of the United States
sees Mexico as "a country whose position is that of a back yard" (patio trasero) and that Washington was only interested in "a relationship of convenience and subordination" and "a weekend fling" (un noviazgo de fin de semana), President Fox requested his resignation on 18 November. Two days later Aguilar announced his resignation in writing accusing the President of treason and submission to US interests. Aguilar saw nothing controversial in his speech, considering it "obvious and historical"; it was, however, spun in the media to imply that Aguilar himself believed that Mexico was the USA's backyard, and was thus unworthy to represent the country at the UN. The speech served as a pretext to fire him and placate the US, although Mexico never gave the US what it wanted: support in the Iraq war
.
After leaving the UN, Aguilar received a honorary degree
from Ricardo Palma University (Peru
) and hosted a weekly current-affairs show on television. He died in a car accident near his summer chalet in Tepoztlán
, Morelos
, on June 5, 2005, at the age of 55.
In the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War he was the subject of an episode of the BBC
series 10 Days to War
in which he was played by Tom Conti
.
.
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...
scholar, diplomat and politician who served as a National Security Advisor to President Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
and as a UN Security Council Ambassador in the midst of the US invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
Born in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
into an upper-class family, Adolfo Aguilar was the son of Adolfo Aguilar y Quevedo a criminal lawyer and Carmen Zínser, a philanthropist. He was also the grandson of Miguel Ángel de Quevedo
Miguel Ángel de Quevedo
For the journalist, please see Miguel Ángel QuevedoMiguel Ángel de Quevedo was a Mexican architect, engineer, and environmentalist who founded Mexico City's Viveros de Coyoacán arboretum, as well as numerous other construction projects in Mexico City, and throughout the country, and promoted the...
El apóstol del árbol ("Apostle of trees"), considered the first environmentalist in Mexico and Ángela Quevedo de Aguilar a philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
.
Aguilar studied law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
, international relations at El Colegio de México
El Colegio de México
El Colegio de México, A.C. is a prestigious Mexican institute of higher education, specializing in teaching and research in the social sciences and the humanities...
(1972-75) and completed a master's degree in international and public affairs at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Kennedy School of Government (1977-78). During the early seventies he briefly subscribed to Marxist ideology, and he headed Luis Echeverría
Luis Echeverría
Luis Echeverría Álvarez served as President of Mexico from 1970 to 1976.-Early history:Echeverría joined the faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1947 and taught political theory...
's Center for Economic and Social Studies of the Third World during the mid-1970s.
He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Congress of the Union, Mexico's bicameral legislature. The structure and responsibilities of both chambers of Congress are defined in Articles 50 to 70 of the current constitution.-Composition:The Chamber of Deputies is composed of one federal...
, representing the Party of the Democratic Revolution
Party of the Democratic Revolution
The Party of the Democratic Revolution is a democratic socialist party in Mexico and one of 2 Mexican affiliates of the Socialist International...
(PRD) in 1994 and served until 1997. From 1997 to 2000 he served in the Senate, representing the Green Ecological Party of Mexico (PVEM).
Following Vicente Fox's election to the Presidency (representing a coalition of the National Action Party
National Action Party (Mexico)
The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...
and the PVEM) on July 2, 2000, Aguilar served as the transition team's advisor on international affairs. After taking office, Fox appointed Aguilar his national security advisor.
In January 2002, Fox appointed Aguilar Mexico's permanent representative to 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...
. His term coincided with Mexico's election to the Security Council
and, in accordance with the Security Council's rules of procedure, he served as its president for two one-month terms.
Following a speech to students at Mexico City's Ibero-American University on November 11, 2003, in which Aguilar claimed that the political and intellectual class of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sees Mexico as "a country whose position is that of a back yard" (patio trasero) and that Washington was only interested in "a relationship of convenience and subordination" and "a weekend fling" (un noviazgo de fin de semana), President Fox requested his resignation on 18 November. Two days later Aguilar announced his resignation in writing accusing the President of treason and submission to US interests. Aguilar saw nothing controversial in his speech, considering it "obvious and historical"; it was, however, spun in the media to imply that Aguilar himself believed that Mexico was the USA's backyard, and was thus unworthy to represent the country at the UN. The speech served as a pretext to fire him and placate the US, although Mexico never gave the US what it wanted: support in the Iraq war
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
After leaving the UN, Aguilar received a honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from Ricardo Palma University (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....
) and hosted a weekly current-affairs show on television. He died in a car accident near his summer chalet in Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán
Tepoztlán is a town in the Mexican state of Morelos. It is located at in the heart of the Tepoztlán Valley. The town serves as the seat of government for the municipality of the same name. The town had a population of 14,130 inhabitants, while the municipality reported 41,629 inhabitants in the...
, Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
, on June 5, 2005, at the age of 55.
In the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War he was the subject of an episode of the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series 10 Days to War
10 Days to War
10 Days to War was a series of eight short television dramas commissioned by Newsnight and broadcast on BBC Two between 10 March 2008 and 19 March 2008 to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the Iraq War...
in which he was played by Tom Conti
Tom Conti
Thomas "Tom" Conti is a Scottish actor, theatre director and novelist.-Early life:Born Thomas Conti in Paisley, Renfrewshire, he was brought up Roman Catholic, but he considers himself anti-religious...
.
External links
Profile on El UniversalEl Universal (Mexico City)
El Universal is a major Mexican newspaper.El Universal was founded by Félix Palavicini and Emilio Rabasa in October 1916, in the city of Santiago de Queretaro to cover the end of the Mexican Revolution and the creation of the new Mexican Constitution...
.
- Former Mexican U.N. Envoy Killed in Wreck at ABC NewsABC NewsABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
. - Obituary on The EconomistThe EconomistThe Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
.