New head of OSCE Office in Baku says the Organization can play stabilizing role in Azerbaijan

VIENNA, 11 January 2007 - Mr. Jose Luis Herrero Ansola, recently appointed head of the OSCE Office in Baku, said today that the Organization will continue helping Azerbaijan as it works to fulfill its commitments as an OSCE participating State.

Mr. Herrero Ansola, a Spanish expert on international relations, takes up the Head of Office position on 1 February.

"I believe that the OSCE can make a significant contribution to stability in the region," he said. "I am very grateful for this appointment and consider this an extremely interesting challenge."

Mr. Herrero Ansola replaces Ambassador Maurizio Pavesi of Italy whose term ended 8 January. Mr. Robin Seaword serves as Acting Head of Office during the interim period.

Mr. Herrero Ansola, 43, holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University and a MA in Political Science and Sociology from Madrid University. He most recently served as Director General of FRIDE, a private, independent, think tank based in Madrid that works for democratization, peace, security, human rights and development.

His wide international experience includes several assignments with the United Nations in Haiti, Rwanda, Geneva and Kosovo. He served as political affairs officer and policy adviser in the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo from 1999 to 2002.

Mr. Herrero Ansola will head a team of five international and 14 national OSCE staff members. The OSCE Office in Baku supports Azerbaijan in implementing OSCE principles and commitments through activities in fields such as judicial reform, diversification of the economy, civil society development, police education, environmental strategies, gender equality and support for the electoral process.