Foreign Minister Marise Payne Wednesday named new envoys for Turkey, Serbia, Ethiopia and Tuvalu.
Senior career officer Miles Armitage has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador to Turkey. Mr Armitage will also be accredited to Georgia and Azerbaijan.
“Our relationship with Turkey covers a broad range of areas including ANZAC Day commemorations, cooperation on security and participation in the G20 and MIKTA Forums”, Ms Payne said in her statement.
Australia and Turkey also enjoy close people-to-people links, with around 73,000 Australians claiming Turkish ancestry. whereas economic relationship with Turkey continues to strengthen, with two-way trade valued at almost $2 billion in 2019-20.
Australia is also enjoy positive bilateral relations with both Georgia and Azerbaijan.
“We cooperate on international security with Georgia and are supportive of its sovereignty in the face of significant challenges”, she said.
Daniel Emery has been named as Australia’s next Ambassador to Serbia. Mr Emery will also be accredited to Montenegro and North Macedonia.
Australia enjoys positive bilateral relationships with all three countries, underpinned by enduring community and cultural ties. Over 175,000 Australians claim ancestry from the region.
Another career diplomat Julia Niblett has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador to Ethiopia, with concurrent responsibility for Australia’s relations with the African Union and non-resident accreditation to Central African Republic, Djibouti, and South Sudan.
Ethiopia and Australia share a longstanding bilateral relationship, based on substantial people-to-people links, including a vibrant Ethiopian diaspora in Australia.
Australia has strong commercial interests in Ethiopia with Australian businesses engaged in the renewable energy, mining and agricultural sectors. Australian NGOs continue to make a valuable contribution to community-level development, including in the areas of disability, health, environment and food security.
Ms Payne expressed her concerns by the current situation in Ethiopia, and wow to supports all efforts towards a stable, peaceful and unified country.
Robin McKenzie OAM has been named as Australia’s next High Commissioner to Tuvalu.
Australia assists Tuvalu to secure its Exclusive Economic Zone. Australia works in partnership with the Government of Tuvalu to help meet the needs and aspirations of its people and promote resilience, including in the face of climate change and disaster events.
Mr McKenzie will be Australia’s second resident head of mission in Funafuti, following the formal opening of our High Commission in 2019.
