New Permanent Observer for Organization of Islamic Cooperation Presents Letter of Appointment

(Based on information provided by the Protocol and Liaison Service)

The new Permanent Observer for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the United Nations, Agshin Mehdiyev, presented his letter of appointment to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today.

In the course of a diplomatic career that began in 1975, Mr. Mehdiyev served most recently as Permanent Observer for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to the European Union from 2015 to 2016, before which he was Ambassador-at-large in Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2014 to 2015.

During his previous service as Permanent Representative at the United Nations in New York, between 2006 and 2014, he served concurrently as Ambassador to Cuba (since 2007),with accreditation also to Nicaragua, Jamaica and Venezuela (since 2008).

Between 2001 and 2006, Mr. Mehdiyev was Azerbaijan’s Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe.  He also served in various other capacities, including Head of the Europe, United States and Canada Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 1993 to 2001; Azerbaijan’s first Permanent Representative in Yemen, from 1991 to 1992; and Consul-General at the Embassy of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in Yemen, from 1987 to 1991.

Born on 28 April 1949, Mr. Mehdiyev holds a graduate degree in oriental studies from Azerbaijan State University and a doctorate in the history of international relations from the Diplomatic Academy of the Soviet Union’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.