NEW REG CO-ORDINATOR FOR COALITION IN SOUTHERN IRAQ

9 Jan 2004 11:45 AM

The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today announced the secondment of Patrick Nixon as Regional Co-ordinator for the Coalition Provisional Authority in southern Iraq, in succession to Sir Hilary Synnott. Sir Hilary will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Nixon will take up his new appointment on 1 February 2004.

Commenting on the appointment, Jack Straw said:

"As his six month posting to Basra comes to an end, Hilary Synnott is to be congratulated for a truly remarkable achievement. He has done an outstanding job building up the CPA Administration in the south of Iraq, and in preparing the ground for the coming transition to Iraqi administration. We have much to thank him for, as have his many Iraqi friends. But he will leave CPA South in safe hands. Patrick Nixon's extensive Middle East experience and fluent Arabic make him ideally suited to lead our efforts in the south over the next six months to achieve a smooth transition to Iraqi executive authority."

Notes for Editors:

1. Patrick Nixon's curriculum vitae is as follows:

Full name: Patrick Michael Nixon
Date of birth: 1 August 1944
Family status: Married to Elizabeth
Children: Four sons (1970, 1971, 1975, 1978)

1998-2003 ABU DHABI (Ambassador)
1997-1998 FCO (Special Representative for International Drug issues)
1994-1997 LUSAKA (High Commissioner)
1990-1993 FCO (Head of Permanent Under-Secretary's Department, Head of Middle East Department)
1987-1990 DOHA (Ambassador)
1983-1987 FCO (Deputy, later Head of Near East and North Africa Department)
1980-1983 NEW YORK (Director, British Information Services) 1977-1980 TRIPOLI (First Secretary)
1973-1980 FCO (First Secretary)
1970-1973 LIMA (Second Secretary, Commercial)
1968-1970 CAIRO (Third, later Second Secretary)
1966-1968 BEIRUT (Language training)
1965-1966 FCO (Third Secretary)
1965 Entered FCO.