Austrian diplomat to replace Tagliavini as special envoy for Ukraine - OSCE chief
MINSK. June 16 (Interfax) - The Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Lamberto Zannier, has said that the OSCE Chairperson-in-office's Special Representative for Ukraine, Heidi Tagliavini, will be succeeded by an Austrian diplomat.
Speaking in an interview with BelaPAN, Zannier said the name is already known. He said there had been no formal announcement yet because he was not in a position to disclose the name. But this is a very qualified, top-class Austrian diplomat, he said.
It emerged in early June that Tagliavini is not going to continue her mandate. The report was published by the Swiss media and confirmed by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Reasons for the resignation were not disclosed.
Later the Austrian press reported that Austrian diplomat Martin Sajdik, who currently serves as his country's ambassador to the United Nations, could be appointed as the OSCE Special Envoy for Ukraine.
According to the Austrian Die Presse newspaper, Sajdik is due to replace Tagliavini in July.
An informed source in Moscow told Interfax that, "Martin Sajdik is considered the most likely candidate but most likely he will not start working this month and will assume duties in July."