Swiss ambassador appointed OSCE special representative for the South Caucasus
Bern, 14.01.2016 - The Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has appointed Swiss Ambassador Günther Bächler as the special representative for the South Caucasus during Germany's chairmanship of the OSCE. He took up the post of special representative on 1 January 2016 upon Germany's assumption of the chairmanship. The Federal Council yesterday reconferred the title of ambassador on Mr Bächler.
In his capacity as special representative for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Bächler will assist the OSCE's negotiation efforts in the region. His duties will also include representing the OSCE in the Geneva talks on the Georgia conflict. Mr Bächler is succeeding Ambassador Angelo Gnädinger, who acted as special representative for the South Caucasus for the last two years during the consecutive OSCE chairmanships of Switzerland and Serbia.
Before his appointment, Mr Bächler was the Swiss ambassador to Georgia. He has worked for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs since 2000, putting his many years' experience in peace work as a diplomat and mediator in peace negotiations to good use. Mr Bächler was the senior mediator in the Darfur peace negotiations and made a significant contribution to the conclusion of the 2006 peace agreement in Nepal. In order to carry out his new function as special representative for the South Caucasus during Germany's OSCE chairmanship, the Federal Council yesterday reconferred the title of ambassador on Mr Bächler.
Increasing number of Swiss with important positions at the OSCE
In addition to the special representative for the South Caucasus, a number of Swiss are currently holding important positions at the OSCE. Alexander Hug is deputy head of the OSCE's Special Monitoring Mission in Ukraine and Simon Eugster is head monitor of the OSCE observer mission at the Russian border crossing points in Donetsk and Gukovo. In addition, Ambassador Toni Frisch coordinates the humanitarian working group of the Trilateral Contact Group that works to address the Ukraine crisis. The OSCE missions in Serbia and Tajikistan are also headed by Ambassadors Peter Burkhard and Markus Müller respectively.
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