Change of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Mr Irfan Siddiq OBE has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Azerbaijan.
Irfan Siddiq
He will succeed Mr Peter Bateman, who has retired from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Siddiq will take up his appointment during August 2013.
Mr Siddiq joined the FCO in 1998 and has a wide range of overseas experience in India, Egypt, the United States, Syria and Iraq. Mr Siddiq has also served as Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary, working with both Jack Straw and Margaret Beckett. His most recent position was leading the FCO’s response to the Arab Spring as Head of the Arab Partnership Department.
On his appointment as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mr Siddiq has said:
I’m delighted to be appointed British Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a fascinating country. It has a rich cultural heritage, a dynamic economy and is of major strategic importance. I’m looking forward to living and working in Azerbaijan, getting to know Azerbaijan and its people and further developing UK-Azerbaijan relations to best promote UK interests and values.
Curriculum vitae
| Full name: | Irfan Siddiq OBE |
|---|---|
| Married to: | Penélope Siddiq |
| Dates | Post |
|---|---|
| Jun 2011 – present | FCO, Head, Arab Partnership Department |
| Sep 2010 – Jun 2011 | Baghdad, Deputy Head of Mission |
| Jun 2007 – Jun 2010 | Damascus, Deputy Head of Mission |
| Feb 2005 – Mar 2007 | FCO, Private Secretary to the Foreign Secretary |
| Aug 2004 – Feb 2005 | Washington, secondment to US State Department as Political Officer |
| Jun 2003 – Jun 2004 | Baghdad, Political Officer, Coalition Provisional Authority |
| Jun 2002 – Jun 2003 | Cairo, Second Secretary (Political/Press) |
| Nov 2000 – Jun 2002 | Full time language training (Arabic) |
| Aug 2000 – Nov 2000 | FCO, Desk Officer, Middle East Peace Process Section |
| Oct 1999 – Aug 2000 | New Delhi, Second Secretary (Economic/Commercial) |
| Sep 1998 – Oct 1999 | FCO, NATO Desk Officer |
| 1998 | Joined FCO |
Further information
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