Ashdown "Considered" for Top Balkans Job

British daily The Guardian cited senior sources in Brussels as saying that it was possible that Ashdown, the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, would be appointed to a new post in the region, the establishment of which is reportedly to be discussed at today's EU-Western Balkans summit in Sarajevo.

According to the report, Catherine Ashton, the EU's foreign and security policy chief, will discuss Ashdown's possible appointment at dinner in London on Thursday night with William Hague, the British foreign secretary.

Meanwhile Ashton told reporters before today's EU-Western Balkans summit in Sarajevo that the topic was not “anything I had serious discussions about”.

“It is not yet on my agenda,” she added. Her comments were echoed by Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, who responded to the suggestion with “I do not think so…I do not see that”.

Hague’s office is headed by Arminka Helic, a Conservative party foreign policy analyst and a Bosnian Muslim who fled the country during the war, and who is a keen supporter of Ashdown, according to the British daily.

"Since I left the Balkans four years ago, there has been constant speculation about a Balkan envoy," Ashdown told the Guardian. "Obviously I think it's a good idea."

"There are many ideas circulating in Baroness Ashton's head. This is one of the ideas she is considering," Ashdown added. The former head of the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia has advocated for this position for a long time, the report explained.

On May 31 a number of international media outlets published an open letter signed by Ashton, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Miguel Angel Moratinos, Spanish minister of foreign affairs.

The letter states that EU ministers in Sarajevo on Wednesday will "recommit themselves to the Balkans' place in Europe", while ministers from the region "will reaffirm their commitment to implement the reforms necessary to meet the aspirations of their people and to move their countries on the path to the Euro-Atlantic community".

"The leaders of the Balkans will have our full support as they confront the challenges of reform. Beyond complying with the political and economic Copenhagen criteria, they must commit to reconciliation among ethnic and religious communities and political groups to build a new national consensus," the letter continued.

"The EU and the US have spared no effort in the course of these months to tackle the many fronts in the process of stabilising and "Europeanising" the Balkans, and anchoring the rule of law and good governance. The Obama administration is committed to remain engaged in the region through completion of our shared vision."

Paddy Ashdown headed the Office of the High Representative in Bosnia from 2002 to 2006. He was both highly praised and widely criticised for his actions while serving in the top position.

The second possible candidate for this position, according to local media in Bosnia, is Miroslav Lajcak, current foreign minister of Slovakia and a former High Representative in Bosnia.

"We're quite keen [on Ashdown]," an EU official told the Guardian.