Celso Lafer

Celso Lafer (born August 7, 1941) is a Brazilian jurist, full professor of Philosophy of Law at University of São Paulo, twice former foreign minister and a former commerce minister. He is of Lithuanian Jewish heritage.

Celso Lafer
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office January 29, 2001 – December 31, 2002
President	Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Preceded by	Luiz Felipe Lampreia
Succeeded by	Celso Amorim
In office April 13, 1992 – October 2, 1992
President	Fernando Collor de Mello
Preceded by	Francisco Rezek
Succeeded by	Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Minister of Development, Industry and Commerce
In office January 1, 1999 – July 18, 1999
President	Fernando Henrique Cardoso
Preceded by	José Botafogo Gonçalves as Minister of Development, Industry and Tourism
Succeeded by	Clóvis de Barros Carvalho as Minister of Development, Industry and Trade
5th Academic of the 14th chair of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
Incumbent
Assumed office December 1, 2006
Preceded by	Miguel Reale
Personal details
Born	August 7, 1941 (1941-08-07) (age 84)
Residence(s)	São Paulo, Brazil
Profession	Diplomat, Jurist

Education

Lafer has a Bachelor in Law from University of São Paulo, a Master's and a Ph.D. in Political Science from Cornell University and a habilitation in Public International Law from University of São Paulo.^[1]

Work

Lafer worked for the administrations of Fernando Collor de Mello as Foreign Minister and for Fernando Henrique Cardoso as Foreign Minister and Commerce Minister.^[2] He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences since 2004. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters since 2006, occupying the chair that belonged to Miguel Reale, Professor of Philosophy of Law at University of São Paulo, and President of the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), one of the main funding agencies for scientific and technological research in Brazil.