Hugo Chavez Death: Former Leader's Daughter Makes UN Debut, Says She's There 'to Learn'
Maria Gabriela Chavez, the daughter of the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, became her country’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.
At an event called the "Day of Solidarity," where countries like Syria and Russia took turns railing against the United States for its recent sanctions against seven Venezuelan senior officials, Maria Gabriela Chavez confirmed that the occasion was her first public event in her new U.N. role.
As reported in The Associated Press, the young woman who has more than one million Twitter followers and a journalism degree but no actual diplomatic experience said, "I'm here to learn."
Chavez acted as an unofficial first lady to her divorced father. In this role, she traveled with her father and attended official functions. Placing Chavez in this U.N. position has been seen as an attempt by President Nicolas Maduro to strengthen his link with the previous leader and his worldwide fans.
Chavez, who is in her mid-30s, did not make a speech at the Wednesday event, electing instead to merely accept hugs and greetings.
A representative from Cuba said that it was an honor to speak in her presence.
Describing her symbolic power, a representative from Sudan said, "Her presence has its own connotation in its meaning of fortitude, those who do not kneel down."
This year Venezuela took a two-year seat on the U.N. Security Council, where it sits near the United States as the 15 members debate and vote on matters of security as well as international peace.
Relations between the two countries in the chamber, which have seen recent political strains, have been described as polite.
Chavez said that she did not know if she would be attending council meetings as would be typical of anyone else in her post.
But Venezuelan Ambassador Rafael Ramirez, who introduced Chavez to applause, said that she would indeed be attending.
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