Robert Cekuta, newly-appointed U.S .Ambassador is going to arrive in Azerbaijan very soon, Derek Hogan, US Charge d’Affaires in Azerbaijan told reporters in Baku on January 21.

“I can’t give a specific date, but I can say – very soon,” he said. “I’ve talked to him several times, that he is very much looking for to his arrival here and really doing his part to advance the bilateral relationship between Azerbaijan and the U.S.”

The U.S. Senate approved the candidacy of Robert Cekuta as the new ambassador to Azerbaijan on December 16, 2014.

Cekuta’s recent overseas assignments include Tokyo (2007 – 2009) and Berlin (2003 – 2007) where he led the US government’s participation in the full range of economic issues.

Cekuta’s activity as Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs at the US embassy in Germany covered counter-terrorism activities and efforts to combat international crime. He also served as the Senior Advisor for Food Security in the Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs and as the Senior Deputy Coordinating Director for Economic and Development Affairs at the US embassy in Kabul.

Moreover, Cekuta served as a Senior Advisor in the Office of the US Trade Representative from 1999 to 2000. He was also a Special Negotiator for Biotechnology in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs in 2002.

Cekuta received a B.S. from Georgetown University, an M.A. from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and an M.A. from the National Defense University.

AzerNews