Robert H. Tiscornia

Roberto H. Tiscornia, recorded in the American roster as Robert H. Tiscornia, served as Argentina’s chargé in Washington in 1971. On 20 August he signed for Argentina both the agreement establishing the permanent INTELSAT organization and its operating agreement. He signed subject to ratification. These instruments set out the organization and operation of an international commercial satellite communications system. ^{1, 2}

After Washington, Tiscornia worked on the training of Argentina’s diplomatic service. He served as interim director of the Instituto del Servicio Exterior de la Nación from July 1973 to May 1976. He continued to participate in its work after leaving the directorship: in October 1976 he lectured on China and Taiwan’s status in relation to the developing world, and in November he was appointed to examining boards for entrants and graduating trainees. ³

As ambassador in Guatemala, Tiscornia reported on political violence and relations among Central American governments. He assembled testimony about the assault on Spain’s embassy on 31 January 1980. Journalist Danilo Albin later described and quoted that report, including its account of warnings against police intervention, the forced entry into the building, and the ensuing fire. Tiscornia compiled the accounts of other participants. ⁴

Historian Julieta Carla Rostica’s study of Argentine and Guatemalan military governments also uses his cables to reconstruct the diplomatic consequences. After the embassy attack, Guatemala sought Argentine protection of its interests in Spain, invoking the governments’ political affinities. Buenos Aires declined, concerned that acceptance would intensify international criticism of Argentina’s own human rights record. ⁵