Australia has appointed new ambassadors for Russian Federation and Portugal.
Ambassador Graeme Meehan will be Australia’s next Ambassador to Russia. He will also have non-resident accreditation to the Republics of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan.
“Australia and Russia work together in a number of important international and multilateral fora, including those focused on non-proliferation issues and regional security”, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said on appointment of new Ambassador for Russia.
She said Australia also works constructively with the countries of Central Asia, Armenia, Belarus and Moldova on international issues in a range of multilateral fora.
Mr Meehan is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Head of Post, Consulate-General, Shanghai. He has previously served overseas as Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Beijing; Deputy Head of Post, Australian Representative Office, Taipei; and Counsellor, Australian Embassy, Beijing.
Ms Claire Rochecouste has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador to Portugal. She will also have non-resident accreditation to Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Marise Payne said Australia and Portugal have a friendly bilateral relationship underpinned by shared values, strong community links and growing commercial ties.
“Both sides are committed to addressing current challenges to the rules-based order and the protection and promotion of human rights”, she added.
Australia and Portugal are pursuing opportunities to foster the trade and investment relationship, including through the negotiation of the Australia-EU Free Trade Agreement.
Ms Rochecouste is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and was most recently Director, Levant and Iran Section. She has previously served overseas as Counsellor, Australian Embassy, Paris; Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Baghdad; Second Secretary, Australian Embassy, Kabul; and Second Secretary, Australian Embassy, Buenos Aires.
