The president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, expressed his condolences on the death of Venezuelan lawyer, politician and diplomat Alí Rodríguez Araque, who died on Monday 81 years old in Havana, Cuba, where he was serving as ambassador of the South American nation.
«With a great sadness I receive the news of the death of Alí Rodríguez Araque, a tireless fighter, one of those who are essential in the Revolution. I extend my words of encouragement for his entire family. His experience and honesty were a school for all of us», he said through the official account on the Twitter social network, @NicolasMaduro.
Rodríguez was born in Ejido, Mérida state, in 1937. In 1961 he obtained a law degree from the Central University of Venezuela (UCV). In addition, he studied economics, especially in oil.
The civil servant carried out diverse political positions in Venezuela, was elected as main deputy (1993) and senator of the Congress (1998); He was part of the Presidential Commission for Energy and Mining Liaison of then President Hugo Chávez (1999-2004).
Rodriguez was also president of the Conference of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and was later elected as secretary general of the organization; President of the state-owned PDVSA oil company (2002-2004) and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2004-2006).
Between 2008 and 2010 he was appointed as Minister for Economy and Finances, he served as general secretary of the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), between 2012 and 2014. From 2014 to date he served as ambassador of Venezuela in Cuba.
