The future Head of the EU Delegation in Armenia is Mr. Traian Hristea, a Romanian diplomat. He is a former Ambassador of Romania to Ukraine and currently Head of the Directorate for Prognosis and Planning at the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Hristea is 41 years old, married and a fluent English and Russian speaker. He studied at the Institute for Mongolian Studies in Ulan Bator and at the Academy for Economic Studies in Bucharest.

Mr. Hristea will arrive in Armenia later this year, subject to receipt of agrement from the Armenian authorities and official confirmation of his date of taking up duty.

He will succeed the current Head of the EU Delegation, Mr. Raul de Luzenberger, who will leave Armenia and move to a different post in the EU administration. Attached is a copy of HR/VP Ms. Ashton's press release, detailing the 25 appointments of new EU Heads of Delegation and a photo of Mr. Hristea.