New High Representative in Bosnia

BRUSSELS -- Austrian Diplomat Valentin Inzko has been named the European Union’s special envoy to Bosnia-Herzegovina, according to AFP.

The U.S. and the EU, who are guarantors of both the Dayton Agreement and the Bonn Powers Agreement, both gave the green light for naming Inzko's appointment.

His nomination was confirmed yesterday by all 27 EU member-states, according to a source close to the Austrian Foreign Ministry. Previously, Washington was reported to have approved the choice.

Inzko is currently the Austrian ambassador to Slovenia and is a member of the Slovenian minority in the Karinthia region of Austria.

He was named the first Austrian ambassador to Bosnia after the 1992-1995 war.

Exiting High Representative and EU envoy Miroslav Lajčak is leaving the position after being appointed Slovakia’s new foreign minister.

The Council for Implementing Peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina is expected to name Inzko at meetings on March 26-27 as the new High Representative and EU envoy for Bosnia-Herzegovina.