Brussels, 9th April 2008: the Board of Governors of the Anna Lindh Foundation formally appointed Mr Andreu Claret in the post of Executive Director.

The Board of Governors, comprising ambassadors and senior officials from all members of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, were unanimous in their selection of Mr Claret, the former Director of the European Institute of the Mediterranean. He is renowned for his extensive knowledge and experience in leading programmes for regional cooperation in the Mediterranean region.

Mr Claret will direct the Anna Lindh Foundation's work from its headquarters in Alexandria in coordination with the Foundation’s National Networks and in close collaboration with the President of the Foundation Mr André Azoulay.

Following the appointment of the new Director the Board of Governors formally elected members of the Advisory Council. The Council, which will be presided over by President Azoulay, is responsible for advising the Board, Director and Networks on the strategic policy orientations of the Foundation. It is comprised of eighteen leading individuals in the field of intercultural dialogue and regional cooperation, nine from the EU countries and nine from Mediterranean Partner countries.

The elected members of the Advisory Council are:

Mr. Besnik Mustafaj (Albania), Mme. Aïcha Kassoul (Algeria), Ambassador Nevine Simaika Halim (Egypt), Mr. Ron Barkai (Israel), H. E. Senator Professor Rowaida Al-Ma'aitah (Jordan), Dr. Antoine Nasri Messarra (Lebanon), Dr. Taleb Mahmoud Omran (Syria), Prof. Mohamed Mahjoub (Tunisia), Ambassador Ayse Sumru Noyan (Turkey)

Dr. Heidi Dumreicher(Austria), Mr. Eduard Gombárd (Czech Republic), Mr. Tuomo Melasuo (Finland), Ms Caroline Fourest (France), Ms Aliki Moschis-Gauguet (Greece), Ambassador Lucio Guerrato (Italy), Karina Petersone (Latvia), Ms. Nevenka Koprivsek (Slovenia), Dr. Sara Silvestri (United Kingdom)

For more information:

Anna Lindh Foundation Headquarters
P.O.Box 732 El Mansheya,
Alexandria 21111,
Egypt
Tel: +203 4820342/3
Fax: +203 4820471
Web: www.euromedalex.org