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New Zealand's new counter terrorism ambassador to work with Asia-Pacific partners

Xinhua, October 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

A former ambassador to China is to become New Zealand's first Ambassador for Counter Terrorism, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said on Thursday.

Senior diplomat Carl Worker would take up his New Zealand-based assignment early next year, McCully said.

The decision to appoint an Ambassador for Counter Terrorism reflected the importance attached to countering the evolving international threat presented by Islamic State (IS) and other terrorist groups, he said.

"Appointing a specialist ambassador will enable New Zealand to contribute further to international and regional efforts to counter terrorism and allow us to expand our diplomatic engagement with important international counter-terrorism forums, including the Anti-IS Coalition, the Global Counter Terrorism Forum, and the United Nations," McCully said in a statement.

"The role will also be charged with strengthening our engagement with key partners in the Asia-Pacific, with a view to increasing New Zealand's counter-terrorism policy cooperation and capacity building in the region."

Worker has served previously as Ambassador to China, Mongolia, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and as Consul-General in Hong Kong, and is currently New Zealand's acting Ambassador to the United States. Endi