Vladimir Norov

Vladimir Imamovich Norov (born 31 August 1955 in Bukhara) is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and the current Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. He was appointed to this position on July 12, 2006 and served until December 2010. He was appointed to his current position on June 10, 2018 at the 2018 SCO summit and took office on New Year's Day in 2019.

Norov, PhD in Law, was born on August 31, 1955 in the city of Bukhara, in southern Uzbekistan. In 1972-1976, he studied at and graduated fromBukhara Pedagogical Institute, (Mathematics Department). He then served in the Soviet Army from 1976 through 1977. In 1978-1983, Norov worked in the Department of Interior of Uzbekistan (MVD). In 1983-1985, he studied at and graduated from the Internal Affairs Ministry Academy in Moscow. Then, he continued working for the Department of Interior and in 1988-1990 was a student of the adjunct courses at the Interior Ministry Academy (Moscow) followed by two more years of employment at Department of Interior.

From 1993 through 1995, Norov was the Consultant on administrative and legal issues of the Office of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In 1995-1996, he served as the First Deputy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and in 1996-1998 was the State Advisor to the President on intergovernmental relations and foreign economic relations.In 1998, he was appointed the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Germany which he held until 2003. From 2002, he also assumed ambassador's duties to Switzerland and Poland while in Berlin. From 2003 until 2005, he was the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. On December 29, 2004, he was appointed Ambassador to Belgium and returned to Uzbekistan in mid-2006. He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan on July 12, 2006.

Norov has the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. He was awarded Uzbek national award Mekhnat Shukhrati. Speaks English, Russian and German. Married, with three children.