Hilia Barber | |
---|---|
Nationality | Guinea-Bissau |
Occupation | Politician |
Known for | First female Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1999 |
Hilia Barber is a Bissau-Guinean politician who served as the country's first female Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1999. She has also served as the country's ambassador to France and Israel.
Hilia Barber has a long history in the foreign service. She was chief of the Guinea-Bissau Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Europe-America department in 1982. In this role Barber was part of a delegation sent to Cuba to negotiate technical assistance, international scholarships and military training. [1] She presented her credentials to President of Israel Ezer Weizman on 17 April 1996. Barber was the first ambassador to Israel from Guinea-Bissau. [2] Whilst serving in this role, in July 1998 she successfully sought humanitarian aid from the Israeli government to help alleviate suffering as a result of the Guinea-Bissau Civil War. [3]
In early 1999 Barber was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, the first woman to serve in that role. [4] She was replaced by José Pereira Baptista later that same year. [5] By 2013 Barber had become Guinea-Bissau's ambassador to France. [6]
Hilia Barber | |
---|---|
Nationality | Guinea-Bissau |
Occupation | Politician |
Known for | First female Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1999 |
Hilia Barber is a Bissau-Guinean politician who served as the country's first female Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1999. She has also served as the country's ambassador to France and Israel.
Hilia Barber has a long history in the foreign service. She was chief of the Guinea-Bissau Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Europe-America department in 1982. In this role Barber was part of a delegation sent to Cuba to negotiate technical assistance, international scholarships and military training. [1] She presented her credentials to President of Israel Ezer Weizman on 17 April 1996. Barber was the first ambassador to Israel from Guinea-Bissau. [2] Whilst serving in this role, in July 1998 she successfully sought humanitarian aid from the Israeli government to help alleviate suffering as a result of the Guinea-Bissau Civil War. [3]
In early 1999 Barber was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, the first woman to serve in that role. [4] She was replaced by José Pereira Baptista later that same year. [5] By 2013 Barber had become Guinea-Bissau's ambassador to France. [6]