Born: 12 May 1948, Kazakhstan
Died: NA
Country most active: Kazakhstan
Also known as: NA
Kazakhstani diplomat Akmaral Haidarqyzy Arystanbekova served as the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1991. When Kazakhstan joined the United Nations in 1992, she was the country’s first permanent representative to the UN from 1992 to 1999, only the fourth woman in the world to hold such a position. Following her tenure, she went on to serve as the country’s ambassador to France (1999-2003) and permanent representative to UNESCO (1999-2001), and had previously been the ambassador to Cuba (1996–99). In 2003, she became Ambassador at Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
After completing her Bachelor of Science in chemistry from the Kazakh State University in 1971 and her Ph.D in 1975, she taught at the university from 1975 to 1978. Moving into politics, she was Chief Secretary of the Central Committee of the Kazakh Komsomol from 1978 to 1983, then Deputy Chairman (1983–84) and Chairman (1984–89) of the Presidium of the Kazakh Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. While serving in the UN, she was a Vice-President of the 49th session of the UN General Assembly (1994–95), Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board of UNICEF (1998) and Vice-Chairman of the First Committee of 53rd UN General Assembly session (1998).