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Daily Mail, UK
Aug 21 2011
Mr and Mrs Ambassador: Bizarre job share of our man - and woman - in
Armenia for British embassy
By Martin Delago In London And Will Stewart In Moscow
Last updated at 3:39 AM on 21st August 2011
The Foreign Office has been accused of making Britain a laughing stock
by appointing a married couple to share a senior diplomatic
appointment.
Jonathan Aves and his wife Katherine Leach will take turns to be the
ambassador to Armenia, each doing the job for four months while the
other spends that time looking after their children.
Critics in the former Soviet republic say the unusual arrangement
means Britain is displaying a `lack of serious¬ness' towards the
country.
The controversy comes after it was revealed that the current
ambassador recently married an Armenian woman working at the British
Embassy.
The two developments have led to local politicians nicknaming the
British mission the `love embassy'.
Mr Aves, 51, and his 41-year-old wife will both have the title of
ambassador when they move to the Armenian ¬capital, Yerevan, next
January with their children Maddie, seven, Mimi, four, and Joe, two.
But the announcement has surprised many Armenians and there is concern
that it could reduce Britain's standing in the country, an important
ally in the strategically sensitive Caucasus region between Europe and
Asia.
Although the Armenian government was obliged to accept the dual
appointment, veteran diplomat Arman Navasardyan was critical.
`The British do not take us Armen¬ians seriously. I doubt whether they
would send a couple to the United States or many other countries,'
said the country's former deputy foreign minister.
`Ambassadors normally spend their first two years getting to know the
country and only the third year brings real returns. Yet here we have
a wife as ambassador for a few months, then her husband. Then what?
Madam again?
`The attitude here is predictable - raised eyebrows and laughter. We
don't understand why Armenia should be treated in this manner.'
The Foreign Office was so keen to avoid causing offence that it sent
its Central Asia regional director, Laurie Bristow, to Yerevan in June
to discuss the proposal with ministers.
But the arrangement has caused particular amusement in the landlocked
country because the current ambassador, Charles Lonsdale, 46, married
his Armenian Press secretary two months ago.
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.
An official Armenian source, who asked not to be named, said: `There
was some surprise but we were told this was the latest trend in the
Foreign Office and that a similar scheme worked well in Zambia.
`Now the British have the letters A to Z covered by this arrangement,
no doubt more will follow. My question is whether they would foist
such a self-indulgent plan on a country they think of as important.'
Britain recognised Armenia as an independent state in 1991 after the
fall of the Soviet Union, and the two governments have strong trade
and diplomatic links.
Mr Aves was a lecturer in Russian studies at Sussex University before
joining the Foreign Office, and his wife 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 will be their first ambassadorial role.
Ms Leach said: `Doing the job jointly will enhance our effectiveness
at work, as well as giving us both the chance to spend time with our
children while they are young.
`We will keep each other closely informed during each four-month
period, keep good records, agree a joint approach on key issues and
¬decisions, and will often attend the same events and meet the same
¬people as ambassador and spouse.'
A Foreign Office spokesman said: `Joint postings are a modern way of
working which help deliver the best possible diplomatic service in the
host country.
`They also provide better value for the UK taxpayer as they keep
families together and reduce travel and shipping costs.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2028369/Mr-Mrs-Ambassador-Bizarre-job-share-man--woman--Armenia-British-embassy.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
From: A. Papazian
Aug 21 2011
Mr and Mrs Ambassador: Bizarre job share of our man - and woman - in
Armenia for British embassy
By Martin Delago In London And Will Stewart In Moscow
Last updated at 3:39 AM on 21st August 2011
The Foreign Office has been accused of making Britain a laughing stock
by appointing a married couple to share a senior diplomatic
appointment.
Jonathan Aves and his wife Katherine Leach will take turns to be the
ambassador to Armenia, each doing the job for four months while the
other spends that time looking after their children.
Critics in the former Soviet republic say the unusual arrangement
means Britain is displaying a `lack of serious¬ness' towards the
country.
The controversy comes after it was revealed that the current
ambassador recently married an Armenian woman working at the British
Embassy.
The two developments have led to local politicians nicknaming the
British mission the `love embassy'.
Mr Aves, 51, and his 41-year-old wife will both have the title of
ambassador when they move to the Armenian ¬capital, Yerevan, next
January with their children Maddie, seven, Mimi, four, and Joe, two.
But the announcement has surprised many Armenians and there is concern
that it could reduce Britain's standing in the country, an important
ally in the strategically sensitive Caucasus region between Europe and
Asia.
Although the Armenian government was obliged to accept the dual
appointment, veteran diplomat Arman Navasardyan was critical.
`The British do not take us Armen¬ians seriously. I doubt whether they
would send a couple to the United States or many other countries,'
said the country's former deputy foreign minister.
`Ambassadors normally spend their first two years getting to know the
country and only the third year brings real returns. Yet here we have
a wife as ambassador for a few months, then her husband. Then what?
Madam again?
`The attitude here is predictable - raised eyebrows and laughter. We
don't understand why Armenia should be treated in this manner.'
The Foreign Office was so keen to avoid causing offence that it sent
its Central Asia regional director, Laurie Bristow, to Yerevan in June
to discuss the proposal with ministers.
But the arrangement has caused particular amusement in the landlocked
country because the current ambassador, Charles Lonsdale, 46, married
his Armenian Press secretary two months ago.
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.
An official Armenian source, who asked not to be named, said: `There
was some surprise but we were told this was the latest trend in the
Foreign Office and that a similar scheme worked well in Zambia.
`Now the British have the letters A to Z covered by this arrangement,
no doubt more will follow. My question is whether they would foist
such a self-indulgent plan on a country they think of as important.'
Britain recognised Armenia as an independent state in 1991 after the
fall of the Soviet Union, and the two governments have strong trade
and diplomatic links.
Mr Aves was a lecturer in Russian studies at Sussex University before
joining the Foreign Office, and his wife 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 will be their first ambassadorial role.
Ms Leach said: `Doing the job jointly will enhance our effectiveness
at work, as well as giving us both the chance to spend time with our
children while they are young.
`We will keep each other closely informed during each four-month
period, keep good records, agree a joint approach on key issues and
¬decisions, and will often attend the same events and meet the same
¬people as ambassador and spouse.'
A Foreign Office spokesman said: `Joint postings are a modern way of
working which help deliver the best possible diplomatic service in the
host country.
`They also provide better value for the UK taxpayer as they keep
families together and reduce travel and shipping costs.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2028369/Mr-Mrs-Ambassador-Bizarre-job-share-man--woman--Armenia-British-embassy.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
From: A. Papazian