Brussels, 05/09/2014 (Agence Europe) - Six new heads of EU delegation were appointed by High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on Friday 5 September, the European External Action Service (EEAS) announced. These appointments are for the EU delegations in one country in Asia, an international institution, and four countries from the ACP (Africa, Caribbean, Pacific) group of states.
Viorel Isticioaia Budra was appointed as Head of the EU Delegation to Japan. A Romanian diplomat, Isticioaia Budra is currently Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific in the EEAS, and has long experience with Asia as he previously served as Romanian Ambassador to China, and earlier held office in Tokyo.
Peter Sorensen was appointed as Head of the EU Delegation to the United Nations in Geneva. A Danish diplomat, Sorensen is currently the EU Special Representative and Head of EU Delegation to Bosnia-Herzegovina. He has long experience in the EU institutions, as well as within the United Nations.
Jean-François Valette was appointed as Head of the EU Delegation to the Ivory Coast. Valette is currently the French Ambassador to the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) and has significant experience in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs as he has also served as Ambassador to Cameroon and to Togo.
Tina Intelmann was appointed as Head of the EU Delegation to Liberia. An Estonian diplomat, Intelmann currently chairs the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Prior to that, she was Estonian Ambassador to the United Nations and then to Israel.
Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff was appointed as Head of the EU Delegation to Mozambique. A German diplomat, von Burgsdorff is the serving Head of the EU Delegation to South Sudan. He has previously worked in the European Commission's Directorate General for Development, and has also held posts in Cuba and Mozambique.
Leonidas Tezapisidis was appointed as Head of the EU Delegation to Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. A diplomat from Greece, Tezapisidis is currently the Head of EU Delegation to Madagascar and a former Head of Delegation to Nigeria. He has spent his career working in the field of EU external relations (Near and Middle East, Asia and Africa). (AN)