Caspian shift: Sheikh Attar replaces Safari
Why has Mehdi Safari left his post as Iran’s representative in Caspian Sea affairs?
The 22nd meeting of the Special Working Group to Compile the Convention for the Legal Regime of the Caspian Sea was held on 15th of April in Tehran. Besides working on the special agenda, unusual events took place during the meeting. The most important was announcing the new responsibility of Ali Reza Sheikh Attar, the second man of foreign ministry, and dismissal of Mehdi Safari from Iran’s representation in Caspian Sea affairs.
Keeping his post as the Foreign Ministry Vice Minister, Sheikh Attar took a new post as Deputy Foreign Minister in CIS and Iran Neighbors’ Affairs. This naturally assigns him with following Caspian Sea affairs in the ministry and representing Iran in the related meetings.
Mistakes in preparations for the 22nd meeting of Special Working Group to Compile the Convention for the Legal Regime of the Caspian Sea led to a one-hour delay that caused the displeasure of some guests, especially the Russian representative that didn’t avoid remarking it.
The Iranian foreign minister was ready to start his speech at the opening session, but absence of Mehdi Safari, head of the Iranian delegation, was the problem. It was said that personal problems had caused his being late. However, the guests found out Safari’s wrong scheduling has caused the delay which may have been a result of his dismissal from the Caspian-related position. During his speech, Safari remarked that Sheikh Attar has become the new Deputy Foreign Minister in CIS and Iran Neighbors’ Affairs.
It seems that talks on replacing Safari with Sheikh Attar had taken place before the meeting. But problems in the 22nd meeting of the Special Working Group due to the inappropriate scheduling of head of the Iranian delegation –Safari-, along with his complaints on lack of preparation for meeting of the foreign ministers of Caspian littoral states –while Mottaki avoided addressing this issue in the opening session- have prepared the circumstances for his leaving the post of Iran’s representative on Caspian Sea affairs.
Ultimately, due to agreements, the Iranian Foreign Minister thanked Safari for all he had done during his term in Caspian Sea affairs. Mottaki added that although. Safari held the responsibility of the one-hour delay; in Tehran they could always use heavy traffic as the best excuse.
Ali Reza Sheikh Attar is now going to serve as Deputy Foreign Minister in CIS and Iran Neighbors’ affairs, besides his position as the Vice Minister. Sheikh Attar has BS in chemical engineering, MA in management and he is currently a candidate of PhD in strategic sciences. He has been Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs for CIS, Ambassador to India, Director General in the Foreign Minister’s Office, Head of Research Department for Asia in the Strategic Research Center and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Affairs and currently he is the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Recent developments return Safari to his previous post as the Deputy Foreign Minister of European and American Affairs. He has recently had a European mission.
Mr. Safari has a PhD in communications and his posts include Charge d’Affaire of Iran to Germany, Ambassador to Austria and the Russian Federation, Special Representative for the Caspian Sea affairs, General Director for CIS affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister for Asian and Pacific affairs and Deputy Foreign Minister for American and European affairs.
He was one of the candidates for holding office as the minister of Foreign Affairs after Mahmoud Ahmadinejhad was elected president, but after Mottaki was introduced to the parliament, Safari became Mottaki’s deputy.
On his approach to the Caspian Sea issue, Safari has persistent opponents and proponents among diplomatic and international law experts. The Caspian case had been initially assigned to Ali Ahani –former Deputy Foreign Minister of American and European affairs and Iran’s current ambassador to Paris. Later, Safari held this responsibility for a relatively long time and now this duty is assigned to Ali Reza Sheikh Attar. The question here is why these changes haven’t been announced officially, especially when Caspian Sea affairs have become important and the third Caspian Summit will be held in Baku in five months.