Event hosted by Andrew Bridgen MP, Chairman of the APPG for Uzbekistan
and Chaired by CFCC Chairman, Rehman Chishti MP
with Bota Hopkinson, Chair of Conservative Friends of Eurasia
The Heads of Mission for Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan spoke at a Panel event.
Afghanistan HE Said T Jawad
Kazakhstan HE Erlan Idrissov
Kyrgyzstan HE Gulnara Iskakova
Pakistan HE Mohammad Nafees Zakaria
Tajikistan HE Mr Masud Khalifazoda
Uzbekistan HE Alisher Shaykov
The CFCC was delighted to be joined by the Conservative Friends of Eurasia for an evening of addresses from the Heads of Missions of six “Stan” nations; Afghanistan (HE Said Jawad), Kazakhstan (HE Erlan Idrissov), Kyrgyzstan ( HE Gulnara Iskakova), Pakistan (HE Mohammad Nafees Zakaria), Tajikistan (HE Masud Khalifazoda), and Uzbekistan (HE Alisher Shaykhov)
HE Said Jawad, representing Afghanistan, began the series of presentations. He spoke thankfully of the aid provided by British forces historically, noting how further aid would be welcomed considering the two main challenges Afghanistan faces: ensuring fair, democratic elections, and securing a peace treaty with the Taliban, a process which is needing to be hastened given the US plans of withdrawal from the region. Mr Jawad also mentioned the importance of modernising the nations infrastructure given its important location as a crossroad of trade routes from states such as India, an idea echoed from HE Erlan Idrissov of Kazakhstan in the next speech. Mr Idrissov discussed the modernisation process of Kazakhstan since the collapse of the Soviet Union, which has led to a substantial growth in GDP and 70% of trade routes between North and South Asia going through the nation. He also noted the strong relationship between Kazakhstan and the UK, with the UK being one of the top 5 largest investors in Kazakhstan and a key trade partner.
The idea of modernisation and infrastructure reforms seemed to be the key overarching priority of all six nations, with the next Head of Mission, HE Gulnara Iskakova of Kyrgyzstan, emphasising Kyrgyzstan’s focus on improving health services, protecting employment, and creating sustainable development. Whilst Kyrgyzstan is generally prioritising strengthening local relations in the region, Mrs Iskakova mentioned how, in an increasingly globalised world, nations like Kyrgyzstan can begin to strengthen their relations with the UK, and have a lot to learn from our parliamentary democracy. This notion was one forwarded by Pakistan’s Head of Mission, HE Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, who talked of the importance of connectivity and economic development in a world of interdependence.
The final two addresses came from Tajikistan’s HE Masud Khalifazoda and Uzbekistan’s HE Alisher Shaykhov. Both speeches focused primarily on their respective nations aims to increase their global presence by welcoming foreign investment and tourism, with Mr Khalifazoda talking about the success of Tajikistan’s open doors foreign policy and the success of their agricultural and industrial developments, and Mr Shaykhov emphasising Uzbekistan’s tolerance and friendliness towards outsiders. The evening then finished with a vote of thanks from Bota Hopkinson, Chair of the Conservative Friends of Eurasia.
BIOGRAPHIES
Afghanistan HE Said T. Jawad
Said T. Jawad is the Ambassador of Afghanistan to the United Kingdom. He has previously served as Chief of Staff to the President of Afghanistan (2001 to 2003), Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Columbia and Argentina (2003-2010), the Senior Political and Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chief Executive of Afghanistan (2015-2017), the Chief Executive Officer of Capitalize LLC, a global strategic advisory firm headquartered in Washington, DC (2010-2017), the Chairman of the Foundation for Afghanistan (2004-2014); and as a Global Political Strategist and Senior Counselor at APCO Worldwide (2010-2017).
Ambassador Jawad also served as Diplomat-in-Residence at Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (2010-2015), and the Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Future of Diplomacy Project at the John F. Kennedy School of Government (2010-2011). He is a graduate of Kabul French Lycée Esteqlal (1975) and the Faculty of Law and Political Science of Kabul University (1980). He studied Law in the Westfaelische Wilhelms University in Muenster, Germany (1981-1985), and obtained an MBA from the Golden Gate University in San Francisco (2001). He holds an honorary doctorate degree in International Management from Argosy University in Washington, D.C (2004).
As Ambassador, he re-established the Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, DC and developed it into one of the most responsive and successful missions in Washington. He managed Afghanistan’s diplomacy at a critical time with its key strategic partner through extensive interaction with the White House, State Department, Pentagon, U.S. Congress, U.S. media and academia; and initiated Afghanistan’s diplomatic relations with Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Mexico. As Corporat CEO of Capitalize, he led a dynamic team of international business experts advising foreign governments, international companies, and investors on politics, defense, security, market entry, commercial opportunities, and development strategies in Central Asia and the Gulf regions, including Afghanistan. As Chief of Staff of the President of Afghanistan and Press Secretary , he was a member of the cabinet and the National Security Council contributing to rebuilding the country’s national defense, security and civil institutions, notably the Ministery of Defense, formulating strategies and implementing structural reforms and organizing national councils and Jirgas. He acted as the President’s Principal Liaison with the Constitutional Commission in 2002. Ambassador Jawad’s op-eds and interviews have appeared in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Time, the International Herald Tribune, Der Spiegel, Le Monde, The Guardian, Foreign Affairs, NBC’s “Meet the Press,” CNN’s “The Situation Room” and BBC. He has lectured at many academic intuitions in the United States, Asia, and Europe, and has been a frequent speaker at think tanks and policy centers worldwide.
He has received numerous national and international decorations and and awards, including the Medal of Sustained Service by the Constitutional Loya Jirga, Kabul, 2003; Special Award for Improving the Quality of Life, Washington, DC, 2007; and Award of Merit for Rebuilding a Nation, American Society of Civil Engineers, Washington, D.C., 2004. He speaks French and German and plays polo.
Kazakstan His Excellency Mr. Erlan Idrissov
Born on 28th April 1959 in Karaganda Region of Kazakhstan.
In 1981 and in 1992 he graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR respectively.
In 1992-1995 - 1st Secretary at the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the UN.
In 1995-1996 - Head of the Department of Americas, Ambassador-at-large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In 1996-1997 - Assistant to the President of Kazakhstan (foreign affairs).
In 1997-1999 - First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In 1999-2002 - Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Between 2002 and 2007, Mr. Erlan Idrissov served as Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, non-resident Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden, the Kingdom of Norway and Ireland.
Since July 2007, he served as Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America and non-resident Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Brazil.
In 2012-2017 – Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In February 2017, Mr. Erlan Idrissov was appointed Kazakhstan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
In August 2017, he was appointed non-resident Ambassador to Ireland and Iceland.
Ambassador Idrissov authored numerous articles on Kazakhstan's foreign policy and multilateral diplomacy.
He speaks English, French, Urdu and Hindi.
Kyrgyzstan H.E. Mrs. Gulnara Iskakova
H.E. Mrs. Gulnara Iskakova Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland H.E. Mrs. Gulnara Iskakova presented her credentials to Her Majesty the Queen Elisabeth II on 13 November 2015.
H.E. Mrs. Gulnara Iskakova has been the Permanent Representative of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva since December 2010, also accredited as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Swiss Confederation, Italy and Liechtenstein. Previously, from 1998,
H.E. Mrs. Gulnara Iskakova was a Law Professor at the American University of Central Asia and Expert of the Center for Political and Legal Studies (public association), Kyrgyzstan. She started and headed the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) Law Department for six years, introducing a new type of legal education in Kyrgyzstan. Later she was Manager of the Local Self-Governance Program at the UNDP, then Deputy Chief of the Parliamentary Capacity Building Project at the USAID in Bishkek. H.E. Mrs. Gulnara Iskakova holds PhD in Law from the Kazakh National University and received an LLM from the Law School, Duke University, USA (Muskey fellowship), Law degree from the Kyrgyz State University. Dr. Iskakova was a Fulbright Fellow at Indiana University, USA, as well as the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Program) fellow at the Max Planck Institute in Heidelberg, Germany.
She is the author of publications devoted to presidential and parliamentary separation of powers, rule of law development, electoral and judicial system reforms in Kyrgyzstan. She also co-authored the first version of the draft Constitution on the parliamentary form of governance in 2006 and the current 2010 Constitution, the first Election Code of 1998 and helped in revision of it and some other laws in the country. She has been also active in the public life aiming at achieving common good, freedom and democratic development in Kyrgyzstan.
H.E. Mrs. Gulnara Iskakova is married with two sons.
Pakistan H.E MOHAMMAD NAFEES ZAKARIA
H.E Mohammad Nafees Zakaria joined Foreign Service of Pakistan in November 1988. He assumed the charge of the office of the High Commissioner for Pakistan to the United Kingdom on 21 January, 2019.
Prior to his current assignment, he served as the High Commissioner for Pakistan to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He also served as Consul General of Pakistan in Toronto and Deputy High Commissioner in London.
His other diplomatic assignments in Pakistan Missions abroad include Abu Dhabi, Jakarta, and Bangkok.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad, he served on the various important positions including Additional Foreign Secretary/Spokesperson, Director General (South Asia & SAARC) and Director General (Europe).
Mr. Zakaria holds degree of B.E (Electronics) and pursued Master’s degree in International Relations.
Married with three children.
Tajikistan HE Mr Masud Khalifazoda
Date of birth: March 03, 1980
Education:
1997-2001
Moscow State University, Faculty of Regional studies
Career:
2001-2002
Specialist, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan
2002-2004
Third Secretary, HR Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan
04.2004-06.2004
Second Secretary, HR Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Tajikistan
2004-2007
Deputy Head of HR Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Tajikistan
2007-2008
First Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan to the People`s Republic of China
2008-2010
First Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United States of America
2010-2011
Counselor, Department of International Organization, Ministry of Foreign of the Republic of Tajikistan
05.2011-11.2011
Deputy Head of HR Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Tajikistan
2011-2012
Head of HR Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan
2012-2015
Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan to the Swiss Confederation, Permeant Mission of the Representative of the Republic of Tajikistan to the UN Office at Geneva
2015-2018
Since 02.11.2018
Deputy Head of Main Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tajikistan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Languages:
Russian, English, Chinese
Marital Status:
Married, 4 children
Uzbekistan His Excellency Mr. Alisher SHAYKHOV
Date of Birth: November 7, 1956
Education: Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies (History), Moscow State Institute (Oriental Studies), 1979 Candidate of Economic Sciences, 1983
Career:
1979-1992 Researcher, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies, Academy of Science
1987-1988 Internship at the University of Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
1992-1993 Chief of the Department for management of prospects and analysis of Foreign Trade Activities, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan
1993-1994 Head of the Department for the Coordination of Foreign Economic
Activities, Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
1994-1995 First Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan
1995-1996 Head of the Department for the Coordination of Foreign Economic
Activities, Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan
1996-1998 Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Germany and Austria, Head of the Mission of Uzbekistan to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
1998-2001 Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Japan
2001-2004 Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Benelux countries, Headof the Missions of Uzbekistan to the EU and NATO
2004-2005 Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan
2005-2006 Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan
2006 – June 2017 Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan
From July 2017 Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Married with two children
