The future minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, announced today (14) the ambassador Maria Laura Rocha as secretary general of the Itamaraty. It is the first time that a woman will hold the position of number two in the ministry. 
Maria Laura Rocha was born in 1955 and joined the diplomatic career in 1978. She was already ambassador in Hungary and currently holds the post in Romania. She has also held the position of chief of staff in previous Itamaraty administrations.
FAO and UN
The diplomat has already been a permanent representative of Brazil at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and a permanent delegate to the United Nations (UN) for Education, Science and Culture.
Vieira also confirmed Minister Ricardo Monteiro as chief of staff. The name of the new Chancellor was confirmed last Friday (9) by President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This Wednesday (14), the future minister granted his first press conference since he was nominated.
