Akmaral Arystanbekova
Akmaral Haidarqyzy Arystanbekova (, Aqmaral Haidarqyzy Arystanbekova) is a Kazakhstani diplomat who served the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic from November 1989 to December 1991. She was the first Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations from 1992 to 1999. She was the fourth female ambassador among the 176 member states of the United Nations. After her UN assignment, she also served as Ambassador to France and Permanent Representative to UNESCO. Biography Aqmaral Arystanbekova was born in Almaty on 12 May 1948 to a Sunni Muslim Kazakh family. She is the daughter of Haidar Arystanbekov and Shahrbanu Nurmuhammedova. She graduated with honors from the Kazakh State University with Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1971 and in 1975 followed up with Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D). She continued her professional career as a faculty member at the Kazakh State University from 1975-1978. From 1978-1983, she served as Chief Secretary of the Central Committee of the Kazakh Komsomol. She also served as Deputy Chairman from 1983-1984 and then as chairman from 1984-1989 of the Presidium of the Kazakh Society for Friendship and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries. Arystanbekova became the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the