Brussels, 18/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - The French ambassador Michel Reveyrand-de Menthon will be the EU special representative for the Sahel. On Monday 18 March, the Council of the European Union made the appointment without debate. Reveyrand-de Menthon will take up his duties in April for an initial term of one year. He will lead the EU's contribution to regional and international efforts for long-lasting peace, security and development in the Sahel, and will coordinate the EU's global approach to the crisis in this region, on the basis of the EU strategy for security and development in the Sahel.
“I am delighted to appoint Ambassador Reveyrand-de Menthon as EU Special Representative for the Sahel. It is crucial that Mali and the rest of the Sahel return to peace, security and development”, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton.
Reveyrand-de Menthon is a senior French diplomat with more than 20 years' experience, focussing extensively on diplomacy and development cooperation with and in Africa. He recently served as ambassador of France to Mali and to Chad. (AN/transl.fl)