Heidi Tagliavini
Encyclopedia
Heidi Tagliavini is a Swiss diplomat noted for her service with international aid and peacekeeping missions; a 2003 profile in the monthly magazine of the Neue Zürcher Zeitung
called her "Switzerland's outstanding diplomat". She was charged with leading the European Union
investigation into the causes of the 2008 South Ossetia War
.
and was posted to The Hague. She was a member of the first Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Assistance Group to Chechnya
in 1995. In 1996, she served as Minister and Deputy Head of Mission of the Swiss embassy in Moscow. From 1998 to 1999, she was the Deputy Head of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
(Unomig). Returning to Switzerland in 1999, she was appointed head of Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
After a stint as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Caucasus from 2000 to 2001, Tagliavini served as Swiss Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina
from 2001 to 2002, and was asked by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
to head Unomig in 2002. She served in that position until 2006, when she returned to Berne to assume the position of deputy head of the Directorate of Political Affairs in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Late 2009/early 2010 Tagliavini lead the OSCE Election Observation Mission during the 2010 Ukrainian presidential elections.
, the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, had agreed to the EU presidency's request to have Tagliavini lead the EU investigation into the chain of events leading to the 2008 South Ossetia war between Russia and Georgia in Abkhazia
and South Ossetia
. The independent international fact-finding mission headed by Tagliavini was given a budget of €1.6 million. Its report was published on 30 September 2009.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
The Neue Zürcher Zeitung is a major German language Swiss daily newspaper based in Zurich.One of the oldest newspapers still published, it originally appeared as Zürcher Zeitung, edited by Salomon Gessner, from January 12, 1780, and was renamed to Neue Zürcher Zeitung in 1821...
called her "Switzerland's outstanding diplomat". She was charged with leading the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
investigation into the causes of the 2008 South Ossetia War
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
.
Career
After joining the Swiss diplomatic service in 1982, Tagliavini served in the Directorate of Political Affairs of the Federal Department of Foreign AffairsFederal Department of Foreign Affairs
The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs is a department of the federal administration of Switzerland. It is charged with maintaining the foreign relations of Switzerland and serves as Switzerland's ministry of foreign affairs...
and was posted to The Hague. She was a member of the first Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Assistance Group to Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
in 1995. In 1996, she served as Minister and Deputy Head of Mission of the Swiss embassy in Moscow. From 1998 to 1999, she was the Deputy Head of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia
The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 858 in August 1993 to verify compliance with a 27 July 1993 ceasefire agreement between the Republic of Georgia and forces in Abkhazia with special attention given to the situation in the...
(Unomig). Returning to Switzerland in 1999, she was appointed head of Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
After a stint as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the Caucasus from 2000 to 2001, Tagliavini served as Swiss Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
from 2001 to 2002, and was asked by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
to head Unomig in 2002. She served in that position until 2006, when she returned to Berne to assume the position of deputy head of the Directorate of Political Affairs in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Late 2009/early 2010 Tagliavini lead the OSCE Election Observation Mission during the 2010 Ukrainian presidential elections.
South Ossetia war fact-finding mission
On 21 November 2008, it was announced that Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-ReyMicheline Calmy-Rey
Micheline Anne-Marie Calmy-Rey is the President of the Confederation in Switzerland, head of government. She is also Switzerland's foreign minister as head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. She has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2003, and was President of the...
, the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, had agreed to the EU presidency's request to have Tagliavini lead the EU investigation into the chain of events leading to the 2008 South Ossetia war between Russia and Georgia in Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
and South Ossetia
South Ossetia
South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
. The independent international fact-finding mission headed by Tagliavini was given a budget of €1.6 million. Its report was published on 30 September 2009.