A. Elizabeth Jones (born 1948) is an American diplomat and government official who served as the United States Ambassador to Kazakhstan from 1995 to 1998 and Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from 2001 to 2005.[1][2][3] She was promoted to the rank of Career Ambassador in 2004.[4] Jones served as Chargé d'Affaires to India from 2022 to 2023. She had served Chargé d'Affaires to Egypt from October 9, 2023, to November 15, 2023.

A. Elizabeth Jones
Official portrait, 1995
U.S. Chargée d'affaires to India
In office
October 24, 2022 – April 11, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byPatricia A. Lacina
Succeeded byEric Garcetti
22nd Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs[a]
In office
June 1, 2001 – February 28, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byJames Dobbins
Succeeded byDaniel Fried
United States Ambassador to Kazakhstan
In office
October 18, 1995 – October 12, 1998
PresidentBill Clinton
Preceded byWilliam H. Courtney
Succeeded byRichard H. Jones
Personal details
Born1948 (age 75–76)
Munich, West Germany (current-day Germany)
Alma materSwarthmore College
Boston University

Early life and education

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Jones was born in Munich to parents in the U.S. Foreign Service. She grew up in Moscow and Berlin, where she attended local schools.[5] She is a graduate of Swarthmore College and Boston University.

Terrorism in Central Asia

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Jones testified as Assistant Secretary of State on the threat of terrorism in Central Asia before the United States House of Representatives' subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia on 29 October 2003. Jones said the greatest threats to the Central Asian states are the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which she described as an Islamic terrorist organization, as well as Hizb ut-Tahrir, which praises attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq. She said that despite the death of IMU leader Juma Namangani, the "IMU is still active in the region – particularly in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan – and it represents a serious threat to the region and therefore to our interests."[2]

Post-retirement career

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In 2022, Jones was appointed Chargé d'affaires ad interim at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi until her succession by Eric Garcetti in March 2023.[6]

Notes

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  1. ^ Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs until August 8, 2001.

References

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  1. ^ Kazakhstan, Central Asia The Political Graveyard
  2. ^ a b U.S.: Diplomat sees growing terrorism challenge in Central Asia RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
  3. ^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project PART I AMBASSADOR A. ELIZABETH JONES" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 26 April 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Career Ambassadors". United States Department of State. Archived from the original on 12 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
  5. ^ "Conversation with A. Elizabeth Jones, p. 1 of 9". Archived from the original on 2021-07-25. Retrieved 2009-04-15.
  6. ^ US envoy Elizabeth Jones appointed as Charge d'Affaires ad interim at embassy in Delhi, aninews.in. Accessed December 21, 2022.
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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to Kazakhstan
October 18, 1995 – October 12, 1998
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs
June 1, 2001 – February 28, 2005
Succeeded by