EU ambassador departs after 11 years

Ambassador Nicolaie Goia of Romania hosted a grand reception recently to mark Romania’s handing over of its European Union council chair to Finland.

The event was also a send-off for EU Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain, who has been posted to Pakistan three times for a total of 11 years along with three years in Afghanistan.

The two envoys gave elegant speeches and it was clear that Mr Cautain, his wife Sonia and their sons have spent a lot of time in Peshawar and Islamabad and will return to EU headquarters with many good memories.

While talking about hundreds of photos his wife has taken from their time in the region, the ambassador said: “We will look at them now when we will stay in the EU headquarters in Brussels.”

“And if I am too old and set in my own ways after two consecutive terms abroad for headquarters’ re-socialisation, or ‘brainwashing’, thyey may wish to make me ‘officer on special duty’, a designation that Pakistan sometimes uses,” he joked.

He added that he was glad that Pakistan and the EU have recently signed a broad cooperation agreement.

Special Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and Centre for Global and Strategic Studies President Khalid Amir Jaffery also spoke, and the chairman of the Pakistan-Romanian Friendship Association greeted guests as well.

After the extensive speeches, guests were served an elaborate buffet dinner and the event ended far later than the two hours officially set aside for it.

Dean bids farewell to Kazakh envoy

Turkmen Ambassador Atajan Movlamov, the dean of the diplomatic corps, hosted a farewell luncheon for Kazakh Ambassador Barlybay Sadykov and his wife Lunara Abildayeva.

Ambassador Movlamov also informed the envoys of the arrival of two new colleagues, Russian Ambassador Danila V. Ganich and Australian High Commissioner Dr Geoffrey Shaw.

In his summary of Ambassador Sadykov’s career, Ambassador Movalmov listed a large number of countries where he has served, as well as the United Nations in New York.

Each station has therefore had to be relatively short. In Pakistan, Sadykov and his wife spent just about a year and a half.

“We have enjoyed the stay in Pakistan very much and will certainly be back. But now I have been told that I will go to another important country,” said Ambassador Sadykov. He added that following diplomatic practice, his new country of service will be announced when all formalities are in order.

The luncheon was well attended even though some of the envoys were away on summer holiday. Salman Khalid, assistant director of ECO who will soon be posted to the UN in Geneva, represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2019