Javier SOLANA, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), welcomed the Council’s appointment today of Miroslav LAJčÁK as the European Union Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina:
“I am delighted that the Council has appointed Miroslav Lajčák as EU Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis of my recommendation. Ambassador Lajčák is a senior diplomat with broad experience in European and Balkan issues, including as my personal representative for the facilitation of the Montenegrin dialogue.
I look forward to working with Ambassador Lajčák, who has my full support, and I wish him every success. I should also like to express my gratitude to the outgoing Special Representative, Christian Schwarz-Schilling, for his dedication and work throughout his mandate.”
The Council took the formal decision (2007/87/CFSP) today to appoint Miroslav Lajčák as the European Union’s Special Representative (EUSR) for Bosnia and Herzegovina, with effect from 1 July. Mr Lajčák was appointed as the international community’s High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina last month. He succeeds Dr Christian Schwarz-Schilling as both High Representative and as the EU Special Representative. Mr Lajčák, a Slovak diplomat who was born in 1963, is currently Director-General for Political Affairs in the Slovak Foreign Ministry. He acted as mediator and personal representative of Javier SOLANA in Montenegro last year where he oversaw the Montenegrin referendum on independence.
Ambassador Lajčák will continue to offer the EU’s advice and facilitation in the political process; to promote overall EU coordination; to provide the Head of the EU police mission (EUPM) with local political guidance; to provide the EU Force Commander with local political advice; to engage with the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities on their full co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and to provide political advice and facilitation in the process of constitutional reform.
