Brussels, 09/02/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission appointed Czech national Karel Kovanda to the post of Deputy Director General at the DG for External Relations. Kovanda will take over his post within the DG headed by Eneko Landaburu in the next few weeks. He is currently the Permanent Representative for the Czech Republic at the Atlantic Alliance Council. Aged 61, he replaces Fernando Valenzuela Marzo, who becomes head of the European Commission delegation with the United Nations in New York. Kovanda has held various posts within the Foreign Ministry of the Czech Republic (including that of vice-minister) and was ambassador at the United Nations.