TARIQ AZIZ - IRAQ

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06498252
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: March 16, 2022
• Document Release Date: March 31, 2016
• Case Number: F-2015-01885
• Publication Date: November 9, 1993

Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498252
UNCLASSIFIED
IRAQ
Tariq AZIZ
(Phonetic: ahZEEZ)
Deputy Prime Minister (since 1979)
Member, Revolutionary Command Council (since 1977)
Tariq Aziz is Iraq's most visible senior diplomat. He represents his country at major
international gatherings and provides input on international affairs at meetings of
the ruling Revolutionary Command Council (RCC). He headed the delegation to the Iraq-Iran
peace talks and regularly presents Baghdad's policy positions to the world press.
More recently, he has led Iraq's public efforts to get UN sanctions lifted. Aziz
is highly regarded in the West for his eloquence and ability. Aziz was born in 1936.
After receiving a degree in English from the University of Baghdad in 1958, he became
an official in the Baath Party administration. In the late 1950s and early 1960s
he edited three different party newspapers. In 1974 he was elected as a candidate
member of the Regional Command-an elite body within the RCC-and became a full member
three years later. He was Minister of Information during 1974-77 and Minister of
Foreign Affairs during 1983-91.
Aziz is a Chaldean Christian and speaks excellent English. He and his wife, Violette,
have three children.
LDA M 93-911193
11/09/1993
Approved for Release: 2016/02/10 C06498252