DUSHANBE, June 26, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Monday June 25, the Council of the European Union appointed Patricia Flor as EU Special Representative for Central Asia.

The task of the EU Special Representative will be to promote good relations between the EU and Central Asian countries and to strengthen stability, cooperation, democracy and respect for human rights in the region. In particular, the EU Special Representative will coordinate EU action in Central Asia and oversee the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia.

Mrs. Flor is a senior German diplomat with almost 20 years'' experience who has focused her career extensively on the countries of the former Soviet Union, in particular Central Asia. Since March 2011, she has been Germany''s Special Envoy for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

Mrs. Flor will take office on July 1, 2012, with her mandate initially running until June 30, 2013.  She is the second woman to be appointed as EU Special Representative.