On 20 May 2013 the NATO Defense College (NDC) proudly hosted the visit of the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Italian Republic, H.E. Vaqif Sadiqov.
The aim of the visit was to provide the Ambassador with a general overview of the mission, role and educational activities of the NDC.
Our distinguished visitor was escorted to the Commandant’s Office by LtCol Alberto Alletto (ITA A), Chief of the NDC Public Affairs Office, and cordially welcomed by NDC Commandant LtGen Arne Bård Dalhaug (NOR A).
Col Kees Marselis (NLD F) then provided a detailed briefing on NDC activities followed by a round table with the Commandant and senior NDC leaders.
After the round table, LtCol Alletto accompanied Ambassador Sadiqov on a tour of the College, allowing him to learn more about the history and institutional life of the NDC.
Vaqif Sadiqov has been Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Italian Republic since his appointment by President Ilham Aliyev, on 29 October 2010. On 13 December 13 2010, Mr Sadiqov was also appointed Ambassador to the Republic of Malta and to the Republic of San Marino. In addition, he is the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Rome-based United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Programme and International Fund for Agricultural Development.
The Ambassador joined the diplomatic service in 1992, serving as a First Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. From 1993 to 1995, he was Head of the Political-Military Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During that period, Mr Sadiqov was a member of Azerbaijani delegations attending summits and ministerial meetings of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the North Atlantic Cooperation Council and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
In April 1995, he was appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Austria, and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Vienna, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the OSCE. Mr Sadiqov also served as Permanent Representative to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (1998-2004), and to the International Atomic Energy Agency (2001-2004). During that period, he was involved in the negotiations on the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the UN Convention against Corruption, the OSCE Charter for European Security and the Adapted CFE Treaty. He also participated in many UN and OSCE events, including the 1996 and 1999 OSCE summits.
From June 2004 to October 2010, Ambassador Sadiqov served as Deputy Foreign Minister. In this capacity he had overall responsibility for relations with UNESCO and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, as well as for matters pertaining to public diplomacy and intercultural dialogue; he also supervised the Information, Consular, Legal, Management, Financial, and Personnel Departments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Francesca Blasi, ITA C)
NATO Defense College 
