The foreign ministry hailed the news of EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton’s decision to appoint Italian diplomat Ugo Astuto to the post of EEAS Director of Southern and Southeast Asia.
Astuto will be able to offer the EEAS the benefit of his lengthy experience in prestigious diplomatic posts in Kenya, the United Kingdom, Brussels and India, the foreign ministry commented.
The appointment of Astuto, the ministry stated, is an important acknowledgement of the profile of a highly professional diplomat and, at the same time, further confirmation of Italy’s convinced contribution to the efforts of the European diplomatic service, an essential instrument at the High Representative’s disposal in promoting the European Union’s role as a global actor, not least with regard to emerging nations.
A few months ago, the High Representative named another Italian diplomat, Fernando Gentilini, EEAS Director of Western Europe, the Western Balkans and Turkey.
