Erlan Idrissov

Erlan Abilfayizuly Idrissov (Kazakh: Ерлан Әбілфайызұлы Ыдырысов, romanized: tr, lit. 'Erlan Äbılfaiyzūly Ydyrysov', [jerˈɫɑn æbɘlfɑjˌɯzo̙lɯ ɯdɯrˈɯsəf] ; born 28 April 1959) is a Kazakh politician who served as Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan 1999 to 2002 and 2012 to 2016.

In June 2002, his Foreign Ministership ended. He became the Kazakh ambassador to the United Kingdom; during his term in this role he was also accredited to three other countries. After serving in London, Idrissov assumed the role of Ambassador to the United States in July 2007. The Ambassador has been quoted in the past as being opposed to the film Borat, but he later seemed to take a softer approach to the film.

In September 2012, Idrissov was appointed Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan after serving as the Ambassador to the United States until October 2012. The appointment was widely viewed by western analysts as a sign of Nazarbayev's intent to maintain strong relations with the west. As Foreign Minister, Idrissov sought to improve relations with states in the South and Central Asia region. During a March 2013 visit to Tajikistan, Idrissov met with President Emomali Rahmon and Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and signed a “Program of Cooperation” that reaffirmed bilateral commitment to cooperation in the areas of energy, migration, political and water issues. Idrissov chaired the February and April meetings in Almaty of the P5+1 talks with Iran over the country's nuclear program, embodying Kazakhstan's multi-vector foreign policy and desire to act as a mediator in regional disputes, as it did during the 2010 conflict in Kyrgyzstan and is now attempting to do with respect to the development of hydropower resources in Tajikistan. Idrissov visited the offices of the European Commission in Brussels in January 2013, as well as with NATO Secretary general Anders Fogs Rasmussen at the organization's headquarters in Brussels to discuss key issues regarding security and the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan. During the first few months of 2013, Idrissov met with leaders in Europe, opening a new Embassy of Kazakhstan in Finland and announcing plans for a diplomatic presence in Sweden in 2013. On December 28, he was dismissed as foreign minister.

In February 2017, Idrissov was appointed Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He was later concurrently ambassador to Ireland and to Iceland. He left all three ambassadorial posts in August 2022.