New UK ambassadors present credential duplicates to Armenian foreign minister

YEREVAN, January 10. /ARKA/. Jonathan Aves and his wife Katherine Leach, the newly appointed British ambassadors to Armenia, who will take turns to be the ambassador, each doing the job for four months, presented today the duplicates of their credentials to Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian, the foreign ministry told ARKA.

Nalbandian was quoted as saying by the press office of the ministry that the ambassadors will contribute to further strengthening of British-Armenian ties. The couple said they will do everything in their power to deepen bilateral relations. The sides were said to have discussed also a set of other issues.

The appointment of a couple as ambassadors to Armenia raised mixed reaction. Critics in Armenia say the unusual arrangement means Britain is displaying a ‘lack of seriousness’ towards the country.

The only other country where there is a similar dual appointment is Zambia, where the job of High Commissioner – equivalent in rank to ambassador – is shared by Tom Carter and his wife Carolyn Davidson.

Mr. Aves, 51, was a lecturer in Russian studies at Sussex University before joining the Foreign Office in 1996, and his wife, 46, worked in public opinion research prior to her diplomatic career. The couple, from Brentwood, Essex, recently completed a joint posting at the British Embassy in Tokyo but the move to Yerevan is their first ambassadorial role. In 2011 Mr. Aves represented UK at UN human rights commission on Libya, Syria and Iran issues. They have three children.-0-