On March 6, the President of Turkmenistan signed a series of decrees, making major personnel changes in the leadership of the country's key diplomatic missions. The changes affected the embassies in the United States, Russia, and the Permanent Mission to the UN.
Washington and New York: New Appointments. The main news was the appointment of Esen Aydogdyev as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the United States of America (Washington, DC). He previously headed the diplomatic mission to the Russian Federation. As head of the embassy in the United States, he replaces Meret Orazov, who was relieved of his post due to a transfer to another position.
Vepa Khadzhiev will now assume the post of Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations (New York). Prior to this appointment, he represented the country's interests in Switzerland (Geneva) and at the UN Office in Geneva. In this position, he will replace the "patriarch" of Turkmen diplomacy, Aksoltan Atayeva, who headed the Permanent Mission for many years.
Geography of Powers. The presidential decrees imply not only changes in the heads of the main residences but also reshuffles in the countries where ambassadors were accredited concurrently:
Aksoltan Atayeva has also been relieved of her posts as ambassador to Cuba, Brazil, and Venezuela.
Meret Orazov is leaving his posts as ambassador to Mexico, Canada, and representative to ICAO.
Esen Aydogdyev is completing his missions in Slovenia, Serbia, and Bulgaria before departing for Washington.
Vepa Khadzhiev has been relieved of his post as ambassador to the Vatican.
These appointments represent a significant staff turnover and the strengthening of key foreign policy areas with experienced diplomats in the context of a changing global agenda.
New appointments to the vacant positions of heads of mission in Moscow and Geneva will be announced later. All personnel changes were officially made with the wording "due to a transfer to another position."
