Archive for February 10th, 2009
10th February 2009
Wales’ loss? Bosnia’s gain?
Unconfirmed press reports are claiming the UK Government has nominated Emyr Jones Parry, Chair of the All-Wales Convention, to fill the dual post of next EU Special Representative and High Representative of the Office of the High Representative to Bosnia-Hercegovina, replacing Miroslav Lajcak who stepped down from the post two weeks ago to become Slovakia’s Foreign Minister. Speculation suggests that EJP is the favourite on the short-list of five nominees. An announcement is expected in about ten days. If Emyr were appointed then it’s highly unlikely that he would be able to combine what is to all intents and purposes a full-time role with a very demanding agenda – there is confusion and disarray among EU actors about the use of their powers in Bosnia and the country itself is in the worst political crisis since the end of the war – with continuing as Chair of the All-Wales Convention. The political process in Bosnia will need more than a curry to get things moving, but Sir Emyr’s vast diplomatic experience will stand him and the region in good stead.
Meanwhile, there will be an important vacancy to to fill back in Wales. Since the tradition is to look to Welshmen with a diplomatic pedigree (Ivor Richard was also a UN Permanent Representative and a European Commissioner) I can think of no-one better than Hywel Ceri Jones, a former Director-General at the European Commission. The Welsh are the world’s diplomats: loquacious, affable and determined. If only we cans start to solve our own problem’s as well as everyone else’s….