The European Union has appointed Mr Andreas Reinicke to represent Europe in the Middle East Quartet. Currently Germany’s ambassador to Syria, Mr Reinicke has worked in diplomacy for 25 years, mostly in the Middle East.
Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said of Mr Reinicke:
“He is an experienced diplomat with huge knowledge of the Middle East. He will play a key role in our efforts to bring the parties back to the negotiating table. The EU’s objective remains the creation of an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. The EU, along with its Quartet partners, has a key role to play in this process.”
Mr Reinicke’s work will cover negotiations over the Israel – Palestine conflict, including the two state solution, and settlements in the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese conflicts. He will take office on 1st February 2012, with a mandate currently fixed until 30th June 2013.
