The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its deep sorrow over the death of Retired General Ernesto Videla Cifuentes, who was Undersecretary of this ministry in the eighties.
Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno and several Foreign Service officers, active and retired, attended the Mass that paid farewell to General (Ret.) Videla, held at San Francisco de Sales church, to convey condolences to the family on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Chile.
On the occasion, Minister Moreno delivered a speech in which he highlighted the brilliant patriotic work to which he devoted his life and particularly the contribution he made from the Foreign Ministry. "In recent years, he remained linked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from where he made an accurate, balanced and humble contribution. His analysis, resulting from his experience and intelligence, offered that angle not always evident and he found the perfect equation between contingency and national interest, between tactical movement and strategy," said the head of Chilean diplomacy.
Ernesto Videla joined the Foreign Ministry in 1976, assuming as Head of the Directorate of Planning from where "he contributed with a strategic design of foreign policy leaving his mark to this day," said the Foreign Minister.
Amid the difficult situation experienced with Argentina, which led to the Mediation of His Holiness John Paul II in late '70s, he was entrusted to lead the Chilean delegation before that mediating instance and determinedly collaborate in the search of peaceful solutions pursuant to international law.
Regarding this important role, Minister Moreno said, "With talent and effectiveness , as all the things Ernesto did , he managed to set up a team of eminent jurists , diplomats and experts who accompanied him until the attainment of the Treaty of Peace of 1984, under which we overcame perhaps the most important international challenge of our country with regard to diplomatic negotiations and began a progressive and permanent path to understanding with our Argentine neighbors , which persists to present day."
From that experience he published in 2007 "The unknown story of the papal mediation. Southern dispute with Argentina (1977- 1985)," which according to Minister Moreno " is an irreplaceable testimony to the enormous amount of work carried out in those turbulent years and the difficulties they had to overcome, which is also a heritage and an accurate portrayal of our diplomatic history. "
Finally, Minister Moreno expressed his admiration and affection for Ernesto Videla, given their heartfelt friendship. "Today we pay our farewell to a fair man; an upright, honorable, honest, selfless, and loyal man. Absolutely free of personal pretentions, he was a generous man, thankful for life, with a great sense of humour and optimism. With an outstanding integrity, he faced harsh ordeals that demonstrated the mettle of his vigorous personality. The Foreign Ministry has lost an invaluable advisor and this Foreign Minister and many other Foreign Service officers a wise counselor and, above all, a friend, he said.