H.E. Hector Valezzi Ambassador of Mexico in South Africa
DS: Last country where you were based before coming to South Africa
HE: Ethiopia (2007-2011), where I was ambassador to Ethiopia, Djibouti and Permanent Representative (observer) to the African Union.
DS: Most interesting place in South Africa
HE: The Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg.
DS: Your impression about South Africa in 3 words
HE: Beautiful, lovable, fascinating.
DS: One place you would like to be posted to or visit
HE: Angkor Thom, Cambodia
DS: Most memorable appointment thus far
HE: Brazil (1984-1988), where my daughter was born
DS: Most challenging situation that you had to handle thus far
HE: Being part of the Mexican negotiating team of the Association Agreement with the European Union, Brussels 1995-1998.
DS: My inspiration is/comes from…
HE: Music
DS: Place in your own country that you love to visit.
HE: Oaxaca City
DS: Most interesting place to visit elsewhere.
HE: Leptis Magna, Libya.
DS:Favourite dish of your country
HE: Tacos
DS:Favourite dish of another country
HE: Sashimi
DS: Favorite eating place in Pretoria.
HE: Brasserie de Paris.
DS: The best book ever read is…
HE: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez.
DS: At the moment I am reading
HE: The State of Africa by Martin Meredith
DS: I spend my leisure time
HE: Going to galleries, cinema, reading, playing tennis and walking my dog.
DS: One sentence describing a lesson that you have learnt from being a diplomat
HE: Know as much as you can about the country of your counterpart.