The diplomatic activity of Fergus Auld, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Azerbaijan, has come to an end. He will leave Azerbaijan in the coming days.
According to Modern.az, Fergus Auld has been one of the most recognized and sympathetic foreign diplomats in Azerbaijan in recent years. In addition to being an ambassador participating in official meetings, he differed from other diplomats by speaking Azerbaijani, his visits to regions, his interest in local culture, and his sincere communication with people.
For example, his use of expressions like “Ay lələ!” and “Qadan alım!” in the Ganja dialect in some of his social media posts generated sympathy for the ambassador.
The road from Scotland to Baku
Fergus Stephen Auld is a British national of Scottish origin. He began his career at the UK Foreign Office in 1999.
From 1999-2000, he worked in the Non-Proliferation Department of the UK Foreign Office.
During his diplomatic career, he held various positions in countries such as Thailand, India, and Russia.
After completing Thai language courses from 2000-2002, he worked as Second Secretary for Press and Public Affairs at the British Embassy in Thailand from 2002-2005.
From 2006-2008, he worked in the Climate Change and Energy Department of the UK Foreign Office.
From 2008-2011, he was Head and First Secretary of the Climate Change and Energy Department at the British Embassy in India.
From 2011-2014, he worked as a political advisor at the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Moscow.
From 2014-2021, he held various positions at the UK Foreign Office.
Fergus Auld began his activity as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Azerbaijan on October 10, 2022.
He is considered an experienced diplomat, especially in energy policy, climate change, and international security issues.
One of the notable aspects of Auld's career is his special interest in learning various languages. Fergus Auld had previously learned Russian and Thai. Before being appointed to Azerbaijan, he underwent a year of Azerbaijani language training.
Six weeks in Ganja
Auld's relationship with Azerbaijan began before he came to Baku as ambassador. To better master the Azerbaijani language, he lived with a family in Ganja for six weeks in 2021. During that period, he took lessons with local teachers, closely observed family life, tasted Azerbaijani dishes, and tried to speak only Azerbaijani in daily life.
Thus, Auld underwent full-time Azerbaijani language training in 2021-2022.
Later, in a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, he spoke about this experience, saying that he first got to know Azerbaijan “as a student” and was very impressed by the hospitality of our people.
Azerbaijani-speaking ambassador
One of the main reasons for Fergus Auld's popularity in Azerbaijan was his fluent command of the Azerbaijani language. He delivered his video messages, social media appearances, and many speeches at events in Azerbaijani.
In October 2022, when presenting his credentials, President Ilham Aliyev called his high level of Azerbaijani language proficiency “an example of respect.” An interesting moment occurred during that meeting: Auld spoke in Azerbaijani, and the President responded in English, and both understood each other easily.
“I first came to Azerbaijan as an Azerbaijani language student. For six weeks, I lived with a local family in Ganja, ate their food, and shared their lives,” the ambassador said at that meeting with the President.
His approach to Azerbaijan was met with great approval by the country's public. Many on social networks called him “one of the most sincere ambassadors.”
Family life and personal interests
Although Fergus Auld did not talk much about his personal life, he provided information about his family in some interviews. He stated that he has three teenage children. According to him, his children teach him new music, technologies, and modern ideas. Fergus Auld's parents were university professors.
The diplomat also showed special interest in Azerbaijani cuisine. He repeatedly emphasized that he particularly liked Sheki piti and Lankaran turşu kabab. He said that in his free time, he liked to travel outside Baku and visit the regions.
Visits to Karabakh and the COP29 period
During his ambassadorship, Fergus Auld visited various regions of Azerbaijan, including Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur. He announced that he had been to Aghdam, Fuzuli, Zangilan, and Gubadli. He also specifically noted the cooperation between the UK and Azerbaijan in the field of mine clearance.
One of the most important events during his diplomatic mission was COP29. Auld called the holding of COP29 in Azerbaijan “the proudest moment” of his activity. The diplomat noted that the UK supported Azerbaijan in this process, and the strategic partnership between the two countries entered a new stage.
“I came as a stranger, I leave as a friend”
At the end of his mission in Azerbaijan, Fergus Auld also made emotional statements. He said that when leaving Azerbaijan, he would most remember the sincerity of the people, the mountains, carpets, tea, dolma, and lavangi.
One of his most memorable sentences was:
“I came to Azerbaijan as a stranger, I leave as a lifelong friend.”
These words explain very well why Fergus Auld is remembered as a different diplomat in Azerbaijan. He was one of the rare ambassadors who went beyond diplomatic protocol and truly tried to get to know the country and its people.
Ə.Qafarlı
