Former Minister of State Terry Leyden, a resident of Castlecoote, has been appointed as Honorary Consul for the Republic of Azerbaijan. The appointment took effect in May, but the announcement was only made this week.
The long-time public representative has been synonymous with Roscommon politics for the last half-century. After a long career at Council, Dáil and Seanad level, he retired from the Upper House in 2020.
The appointment was made by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs & Minister for Defence Micheál Martin TD.
Mr Leyden had been nominated by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, IIham Aliyev.
Mr Leyden said: “I was presented with my exequatur document by His Excellency Ambassador Elin Suleymanov, Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland (non-resident) in the Embassy of Azerbaijan in London on Friday, 31 of May 2024.
“The Tánaiste met me and wished me well, saying it was a very big task”.
Mr Leyden added: “I am ready and willing to serve”.
The former Roscommon politician said he was “proud and honoured” to have been asked to serve as Azerbaijan’s Honorary Consul in Ireland: “I am grateful to Micheál Martin for approving my appointment, and am honoured to be the only former minister to hold such a title”.
