Italian President gives approval for new Chilean ambassador in Rome

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ROME.- According to the Italian Chancellor's Office, the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano, has given his approval for Cristián Barros Melet to become the new Chilean ambassador in Rome.

Barros, who until Wednesday had been the Chilean ambassador to Peru, will replace former Chancellor Gabriel Valdés.

An announcement released by the Chilean Chancellor's Office stated that Chile's new representative in Rome has served as an ambassador to Denmark (1993-1996) and the United Kingdom (2000), and has also been a consul in the Argentine city of Bariloche, as well as an official of the General Consulate in the U.S. city of Chicago. 

Barros served as the undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2002-2006), where he led negotiations between Chile and the European Union regarding the Agreement of Association between the two.

The document also indicates that Barros worked as the General Director of Foreign Policy (1998-1999) and has been honored by several governments.