List of ambassadors of Australia to Iraq

The Ambassador of Australia to Iraq is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Republic of Iraq in Baghdad.[1] The position has the rank and status of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and is currently held by Dr Joanne Loundes since January 2018. Iraq and Australia have enjoyed official diplomatic relations since the Australian government of Gough Whitlam recognised the Iraqi Republic in 1973. Contacts between Australia and Iraq however were much earlier, dating back to British Mandatory Iraq and the British Protectorate Kingdom of Iraq from 1935.[2]

Ambassador of Australia to Iraq
Incumbent
Dr Joanne Loundes
since 10 January 2018
StyleHis Excellency
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderPierre Hutton (resident in Beirut)
Formation1974
WebsiteAustralian Embassy, Iraq

On 2 December 1973, Foreign Minister Don Willesee announced that Iraq and Australia would establish diplomatic relations with the Australian Ambassador in Beirut to be accredited to Iraq.[3] A resident Ambassador was not appointed until 1976, with Neil Truscott becoming the first resident Ambassador in early 1977.[4] With the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait starting the First Gulf War in August 1990, relations between the two countries became severely strained and diplomatic relations were severed in January 1991 with the withdrawal of Ambassador Peter Lloyd immediately prior to Operation Desert Storm.[5] Relations remained severed until the overthrow of the regime of Saddam Hussein and the establishment of the Australian Mission in Baghdad on 3 May 2003, immediately following the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[6] This was upgraded to an embassy 29 June 2004 following the transfer of sovereign authority to the Iraqi Interim Government.[7]

Office-holders

Ambassadors to Iraq, resident in Beirut
NameStart of termEnd of termReferences
Pierre Hutton19741975
Peter Curtis1975October 1976

Ambassadors to Iraq, resident in Baghdad
NameStart of termEnd of termReferences
J.M. Starey (Chargé d'affaires)October 19761977
Neil Truscott19771979[8]
J M. Starey19791981
A.L. Vincent19811983
Miles Kupa19831986
Rory Steele19861989
Peter Lloyd1989January 1991[5]
Suspension of relations
Neil Mules (Head of Mission)3 May 200329 June 2004[6]
Neil Mules29 June 2004October 2004[9]
Howard BrownOctober 2004August 2006[7]
Marc Innes-BrownAugust 2006August 2008[10]
Robert TysonAugust 2008August 2011[11]
Lyndall SachsAugust 201120 July 2015[12][13]
Christopher Langman20 July 201510 January 2018[14][15]
Dr Joanne Loundes10 January 2018date[16]

See also

References
  1. CA 6659: Australian Embassy, Iraq [Baghdad], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 30 June 2015
  2. "Bilateral relations". Australian Embassy, Iraq. Australian Government. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  3. "Diplomacy". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 3 December 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  4. "IN BRIEF". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 28 October 1976. p. 17. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  5. Colvin, Mark (19 February 2003). "Former ambassador discusses Iraq". ABC Radio National - PM. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  6. Moore, Matthew (3 May 2003). "Australia to open mission in Baghdad". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011.
  7. Downer, Alexander (27 August 2004). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Iraq" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  8. "IN BRIEF Citizenship". The Canberra Times. ACT: National Library of Australia. 28 October 1976. p. 17. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  9. Downer, Alexander (29 June 2004). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Iraq" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  10. Downer, Alexander (15 August 2006). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to Iraq" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
  11. Smith, Stephen (16 June 2008). "Diplomatic Appointment - Ambassador to Iraq" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 6 April 2015.
  12. Rudd, Kevin (30 July 2011). "Diplomatic appointment - Ambassador to Iraq" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015.
  13. Benson, Simon (28 June 2014). "Brave Aussie ambassador in Baghdad Lyndall Sachs has stayed on amid the escalating crisis". The Daily Telegraph. News Corp.
  14. Bishop, Julie (20 July 2015). "Ambassador to Iraq" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015.
  15. "Diplomat appointed new Iraq ambassador". SBS. AAP. 20 July 2015.
  16. Bishop, Julie (10 January 2018). "Ambassador to Iraq" (Press release). Australian Government.
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