Quick Facts
Biography
Abdulaziz Khafizovich Kamilov (Uzbek: Abdulaziz Xafizovich Kamilov; Russian: Абдулазиз Хафизович Камилов, Abdulaziz Chafizovič Kamilov; born November 16, 1947) is an Uzbek politician who has been Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2012. Previously he served in the same post from 1994 to 2003.
Early years
Kamilov was born on November 16, 1947 in Yangiyo‘l, Uzbekistan. He graduated from the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of USSR. In 1978 through 1980, he was a post-graduate student at the Eastern Studies department of the Academy of Sciences of USSR. He has a PhD in History.
Political career
Kamilov worked as an attaché of the Soviet Embassy in Lebanon from 1973 until 1976. In 1980-1984, he worked as the 2nd secretary of the Soviet Embassy in Syria and in 1984-1988 in the Department of Middle Eastern Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan SSR. In 1988-1991, he worked at the Department of World Economy and Foreign Affairs of the Academy of Science of USSR. In 1991-1992, he was the advisor to the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Russian Federation. From 1992 until 1994, Kamilov served as the Deputy Minister of National Security Ministry of Uzbekistan. In 1994, he was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. At the same time, from 1998 until 2003, he was the rector of University of World Economy and Diplomacy. He remained in the position until March 14, 2003 when he was replaced by Sodiq Safoyev, a few months before the government of Prime Minister O‘tkir Sultonov resigned. He was then appointed the National Foreign Affairs Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan.
He was subsequently appointed as the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the United States and Canada with residence in Washington, D.C. on December 4, 2003 In 2008, while in Washington, he also assumed duties of an ambassador to Brazil. From 2010 on, Kamilov serves as the First Deputy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Awards
Kamilov has the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. He was awarded Uzbek national awards of Mekhnat Shukhrati and Uzbekiston belgisi.
Komirov is fluent in Arabic and English. He is married and has a son.