Berlin (Beta/AP/Michael Sohn)
Following Manuel Sarrazin's appointment as Germany's special representative for the Western Balkans, German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that the region's stability and European perspective are among Berlin's top strategic priorities, particularly given current circumstances.
"The federal government created the office of special representative so that we could collaborate with [the region's] six countries -- in a focused manner -- on furthering their developmental prospects and to support them as best we can in the reform processes," Baerbock said late on March 2.
The German minister elaborated by saying that Sarrazin would "closely collaborate" with Miroslav Lajcak, the EU's special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, and with Christian Schmidt, the international community's high representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I am especially pleased because I hold Manuel Sarrazin in very high regard and am fully aware of the utter dedication with which he promotes Western Balkan interests. A strong, stable and peaceful Western Balkan region in Southeastern Europe will play a key role in the future of the EU," Baerbock stated.
The German government named Sarrazin the country's special representative for the Western Balkans on Feb. 18. Sarrazin served as a Greens MP in the Bundestag from 2008 to 2021 prior to his new appointment -- which is also a position newly introduced by the German government.
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