The Council of the European Union (EU) today appointed Ambassador Herbert Salber as the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.
Salber is tasked with contributing to a peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region, including the ongoing crisis in Georgia and its breakaway regions, as well as to encourage regional cooperation.
In particular, Salber will co-chair and participate on behalf of the EU in the Geneva International Discussions on the consequences of the 2008 conflict in Georgia.
Ambassador Salber was offered this position by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
"I am delighted to announce the appointment of Ambassador Salber to this important post. His long standing expertise and knowledge are significant assets for the EU and I look forward to working with him in his new role," Ashton said.
Ambassador Salber enjoyed a senior level career in the German Foreign Service, which included postings in Belgrade, Vienna and Moscow, before he joined the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) where he spent time as the head of the OSCE Centre in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and as the director of the OSCE's Conflict Prevention Centre.
He will be the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus until his term ends on February 28, 2015.
He replaced Philippe Lefort, who took up the role and served in Georgia from September 1, 2011.