B. Rangel, September 16, 1997

The interview was recorded in New York City, United States,on September 16, 1997. The Interviewer was Jean Krasno. Ms. Beatrice Rangel served as Venezuelan President Carlos Andres Perez's Deputy Chief of Staff from 1989 to 1991 and was appointed his Chief of Staff from 1991 to 1993. During this period, Venezuela and the Perez administration were involved in conflict resolution in Central America. During her civil service career, Ms. Rangel worked in several advisory positions within the Venezuelan Government. From 1970 to 1972, she served under the Ministry of Foreign Relations as Third Secretary in the Office of Protocol. She became an advisor to the Minister of Foreign Relations in 1978. Following this, Ms. Rangel was appointed foreign Affairs Coordinator for the National Council for Scientific and Technological Research (CONICIT) from 1975 to 1977, and became its Director in 1977. She became an Advisor to the President in 1978; Advisor to the Finance Commission of the Chamber of Deputies at the National Congress in 1981; then Advisor to the Minister of Science and Technology in 1984. In 1983, Ms. Rangel was elected to the National Congress of Venezuela as Alternate Deputy of Congress for Miranda State. She then served as the General Secretary of the Ministry of Education of Venezuela in 1985 and became Executive Secretary of the Presidential Commission in charge of drafting the National Education Reform Project. At the time of this interview, conducted on 16 September 1997, Ms. Rangel was serving as the Senior Advisor to the Chairman & Corporate Vice President of the Cisneros Group of Companies. She shared her thoughts on the role of Venezuela in the resolution of conflicts in Nicaragua, El Salvador, Haiti and Guatemala. Having firsthand knowledge of each situation, as she worked closely with Venezuelan President Perez, she discussed her experiences and Venezuela's determination to quell regional conflict.