2003 Press Releases

New U.S. Ambassador Arrives in Turkmenistan

Aug. 25, 2003

The new U.S. Ambassador to Turkmenistan Tracey A. Jacobson arrived in Ashgabat last night to take up her duties. She met with President Niyazov this morning to present her credentials and plans to continue making introductory calls on governmental officials, other diplomats and community leaders. "I am very pleased that President Niyazov received me on my first day in Ashgabat. I told the President that I want to work closely with him and the officials of his government to build on our cooperation in the areas of exchanges, develoment, and security," said Ambassador Jacobson after her meeting with the President of Turkmenistan.

In an August 8th ceremony at the Department of State, Secretary of State Colin Powell officially swore in Ambassador Jacobson and expressed his confidence in her ability to broaden American-Turkmen relations. "President Bush and I look to Ambassador Tracey Jacobson to help us weave a relationship with Turkmenistan that is as bright and tightly woven as a Turkmen carpet and as vibrant and warm as the people of Turkmenistan," Secretary Powell noted in his comments.

Ambassador Jacobson most recently served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Riga, Latvia. Prior to her three year assignment in Riga, Ambassador Jacobson served as Deputy Executive Secretary at the National Security Council at the White House. Her Foreign Service overseas assignments include Seoul, Korea; Nassau, Bahamas; and Moscow, Russia. Her domestic assignments include the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, and the Office of the Under Secretary for Management. Ambassador Jacobson received her BA from John Hopkins University (JHU), and her MA from the JHU Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Ambassador Jacobson's foreign languages include Russian, Spanish, French and Korean. She is married to Lars Anders Johansson and has one stepdaughter, Emmelie Johansson.