Itamaraty

Responsible for advising the President in the elaboration and execution of Brazil's foreign policy, the Ministry of External Relationships - Itamaraty, as it is known - has its historical marks set in three distinct moments. The first, in 1750, during the signing of the Treaty of Madrid, when Alexandre de Gusmão negotiated the territorial borders established by the Treaty of Tordesilhas. The second was in 1808, when the Royal Family of Portugal moved to Rio de Janeiro, due to Napoleon's occupation in Portugal. Lastly, on the following years after Brazil's independence, in 1822, during Brazil's territorial reconnaissance, in the monarchic period.

In those two and a half centuries, the Brazilian diplomacy defined its main principles, with pacific solutions to controversies, non-intervention, and, specially after 1945, with the creation of the United Nations, with a strong participation, although independent, on the most important international forums. Since its beginning, it counted with notable diplomats, such as Visconde do Uruguai, Visconde do Rio Branco, Barão do Rio Branco, Oswaldo Aranha, San Tiago Dantas and Araújo Castro.

Nowadays, the Brazilian diplomacy modernized its precepts and is now emphasizing on the regional integration with the Mercosul and other regional and financial organisms. It has also been intensely participating in debates concerning important issues of the international agenda, such as human rights, ecological preservation, and peace maintenance.

At the same time, it has been intensifying its bonds with the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries and structuring itself to quickly attend to the country's and to the foreign policy's needs. In this sense, Itamaraty has improved its performance internationally with 94 Embassies, 7 Missions/Delegations on international organisms, 31 Consulate General, 6 Consulates, 13 Vice-Consulates, and services such as commercial promotion, consulate assistance, support for Brazilian communities in other countries, communication and disclosure of the Country's culture and language.

Internally, the Ministry of External Relationships (MRE) has improved both its organizational structure and the diplomatic career itself. For that, it counts with a structure that includes the Palácio Itamaraty in Brasília, its headquarter; the Palácio Itamaraty in Rio de Janeiro, old headquarter and nowadays its Representative Office, similar to the ones in Porto Alegre, Florianópolis, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, São Paulo, Recife and Manaus. The MRE also counts with the entity Fundação Alexandre de Gusmão (Funag), its academic branch, besides the Instituto Rio Branco, responsible for the recruitment and training of Diplomats. Among several other activities performed by the Itamaraty, the demarcation of Brazil's borders is also included.

More information can be obtained in http://www.mre.gov.br/

 

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