Inter view with Astrid Garcia She doesn’t have an official position with the Colombian mission here, but Astrid Garcia is an effective representative of her country in her own right. Besides helping her husband at various diplomatic activities like lunches, dinners and receptions, she is very active in other social and charity events. She is a key member of a group of ambassadors’ spouses as well as the Young Woman’s Christian Association. Like her husband, she is impressed with the rapid development in Thailand and Bangkok in particular. “There are so many new high-rises and shopping malls. If you come to Thailand as a tourist for a short period of time you see it very differently than if you live here. I love living here. The people are so nice to us. “I am busy all the time. There are diplomatic functions going on almost daily and I really enjoy participating. In addition, we often invite guests to our residence or we accept invitations from various people. This is my life mainly in the evenings and night. During the day I work for my company. It’s a family operation called AOTA which creates marketing campaigns for corporations, countries and cities with the use of interactive art. Company headquarters is in the US. These days it’s easy to stay in control of a business no matter where you are.”
M
rs Garcia said that since coming to Thailand she’s collected a great many memories that are all special to her, but the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the most emotional experience. “To be a wife of an Ambassador we have been married for 42 years is a great opportunity to enjoy different cultures and meet interesting people. In Thailand, we have been invited to lunches and dinners and other functions where we were the only foreigners. We now have a very big circle of Thai friends – among them academics, politicians, business people and many others. I travel often to the provinces to experience local customs and cuisines. “I am in a group called Thailand Women’s Leaders, made up of 14 Thai women and myself. We meet once a month at our residence for dinner. The women represent many professions. We are a diverse group and we’ve all become good friends.” Mrs Garcia’s refreshing cross-cultural balance is reflected in her dress as well as her social life. She was wearing beautiful earrings and matching necklaces of Colombia Indigenous design made in Colombia to accessorise a lovely traditional Thai-style dress.
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Background of H.E. Andelfo Garcia Education • New York University, MA Latin American and Caribbean Studies, New York, USA (1981) • The National University of Colombia, Doctor of Law, Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Law, Bogota, Colombia (1977) Assignments and positions • Member of the legal team of Colombia before the International Court of Justice in the cases: Nicaragua vs Colombia (2001-2012 and 2013-2017) and Ecuador vs Colombia (2008-2012). • Member of the “Centro de Pensamiento Estrategico”, a think tank established by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Colombia to assess the international situation and build scenarios on future developments (2011-2012). • Deputy Head of Mission of the Republic of Colombia to the United Kingdom, London (2008-2009). • Deputy Chief of Mission of the Republic of Colombia to Spain, Madrid (2006-2007) • Ambassador Deputy Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN (1994-1998). An expert on disarmament matters. Responsible for the Coordinating Bureau of the NonAligned Movement (NAM) in New York during the three-year chairmanship of Colombia (1995-1998). • Chairman of the United Nations Disarmament Commission 1997. • Member of the Advisory Board of the Secretary-General of the UN on Disarmament Matters (1997-1998). • Vice-Chair of the Second PrepCom for the 2000 Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (1998). • Vice-Chair of the First Committee of the General Assembly of the UN-Disarmament and International Security (1997). • Deputy MFA of Colombia (1992-1994). • Member of the negotiating team of Colombia for the maritime delimitation with Jamaica. Delimitation Treaty ratified in 1994. In charge of policy-making of Colombia on the Caribbean Basin, including the establishment of the Association of Caribbean States in 1994. Co-directed the design of the new structure for the MFA of Colombia in 1993, by which the ministry was organised along geographical as well as thematic lines. Advisory roles • Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Consultant. Support for the participation of Colombia as a member of de UNSC (2011-2012). • Inter-American Development Bank. Consultant (2000-2001). Reform and enhancement of the Diplomatic Academy of the MFA of Colombia. • Corporacion Andina de Fomento. Consultant (2001). Member of Colombia’s National Group (at the MFA) in charge of the issue of “Humanitarian Intervention”. Academic position • University of California, Berkeley. Professor at LAS-Latin American Studies. Course, “The Colombian Conflict: Past and Present.” LAS 240, Spring 2002. • Columbia University. (ILAS). Visiting Scholar. Research projects and papers: “The Bureaucratic Politics of Plan Colombia”. “The Regional Crisis: the real threat”. New York (2000-2001). • Universidad Externado de Colombia. Professor of Public International Law at the Faculty of Finance, Government and International Relations (1988-1993, 1999, 2002-2004). • Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Finance and International Relations at the Externado de Colombia University (19861992). Participated in the creation of the Faculty, including the formulation of curricula. • Researcher and Professor of Public International Law at the Universidad de Los Andes, Bogota, Colombia (1982-1985).