Emilio Óscar Rabasa
Encyclopedia
Emilio Óscar Rabasa Mishkin
(23 January 1925 – 14 June 2008) was an Mexican
politician, diplomat and academic.
, the son of Oscar Rabasa, a distinguished Mexican diplomat, and Mrs. Lillian Mishkin, and grandson of constitutional lawyer, poet, and one-time Governor of Chiapas
Emilio Rabasa Estebanell (1856–1930). He studied law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico
(UNAM), where he also earned his J.D. and later founded the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences.
in 1970–71, during the government of U.S. President Richard Nixon
.
On 1 December 1970, President Luis Echeverría
appointed him Secretary of Foreign Affairs
. He oversaw a period of intense diplomatic activity, during which Mexico doubled (from 67 to 129) the number of countries with which it maintained diplomatic relations, particularly among the nations of the Third World
and the Non-Aligned Movement
. During Rabasa's time at the foreign ministry, Mexico refused to impose OAS
-led sanctions on Castro
's Cuba
and admitted a flood of political refugees from Pinochet's Chile
. Rabasa was also instrumental in the country's adoption of a 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) Economic Exclusion Zone and the creation of the Matías Romero Diplomatic Studies Institute. He also signed Mexico's first cooperation agreement with the European Economic Community
.
Rabasa resigned from the cabinet on 28 December 1975, due to differences of opinion with President Echeverría arising from heightened international tensions following Mexico's vote in favour of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379, equating Zionism
with racism
. He was replaced by Alfonso García Robles
.
After he stepped down he wrote several books including History of the Mexican Constitution, The Political Thought of the Constituent and Environmental Law. He later served at the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in The Hague
and on the OAS's Inter-American Juridical Committee in Rio de Janeiro
.
(23 January 1925 – 14 June 2008) was an Mexican
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...
politician, diplomat and academic.
Early Life
Rabasa Mishkin was born in Mexico CityMexico 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...
, the son of Oscar Rabasa, a distinguished Mexican diplomat, and Mrs. Lillian Mishkin, and grandson of constitutional lawyer, poet, and one-time Governor of Chiapas
Governor of Chiapas
This is a list of governors of the Mexican state of Chiapas. The state constitution stipulates a term of 6 years, to which governors can only be elected once. It also specifies the qualifications for becoming Governor: a Mexican citizen by birth, aged at least 30 years old, and having not less than...
Emilio Rabasa Estebanell (1856–1930). He 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...
(UNAM), where he also earned his J.D. and later founded the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences.
Political career
Rabasa served as Ambassador to the United StatesEmbassy of Mexico in Washington DC
The Embassy of Mexico in Washington, D.C. is the United Mexican States' diplomatic mission to the United States.It is located at 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C., in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood....
in 1970–71, during the government of U.S. President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
On 1 December 1970, President 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...
appointed him Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Mexico)
In Mexico, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs is a member of the federal executive cabinet with responsibility for implementing the country's foreign policy. The secretary is appointed by the President of the Republic and heads the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs ...
. He oversaw a period of intense diplomatic activity, during which Mexico doubled (from 67 to 129) the number of countries with which it maintained diplomatic relations, particularly among the nations of the Third World
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
and the Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
. During Rabasa's time at the foreign ministry, Mexico refused to impose OAS
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
-led sanctions on Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
's Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and admitted a flood of political refugees from Pinochet's Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. Rabasa was also instrumental in the country's adoption of a 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) Economic Exclusion Zone and the creation of the Matías Romero Diplomatic Studies Institute. He also signed Mexico's first cooperation agreement with the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
.
Rabasa resigned from the cabinet on 28 December 1975, due to differences of opinion with President Echeverría arising from heightened international tensions following Mexico's vote in favour of United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3379, equating Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
with racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. He was replaced by Alfonso García Robles
Alfonso García Robles
Alfonso García Robles was a Mexican diplomat and politician who, in conjunction with Sweden's Alva Myrdal, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982....
.
After he stepped down he wrote several books including History of the Mexican Constitution, The Political Thought of the Constituent and Environmental Law. He later served at the Permanent Court of Arbitration
Permanent Court of Arbitration
The Permanent Court of Arbitration , is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands.-History:The court was established in 1899 as one of the acts of the first Hague Peace Conference, which makes it the oldest institution for international dispute resolution.The creation of...
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
and on the OAS's Inter-American Juridical Committee in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
.
External links
- Dr. Emilio O. Rabasa Mishkin (IIJ/UNAM)