BRUSSELS, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The European Council appointed here on Thursday Italy's ambassador to Kabul Ettore Francesco Sequi as the new European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for Afghanistan.

    Sequi is to succeed Francesc Vendrell who acted as the EUSR since June 2002. The EU has had a special representative for Afghanistan since December 2001.

    Sequi's mandate, which starts on Sept. 1, 2008, includes conveying the EU's views on the political process, and establishing close contact with the Afghan government, international and regional organizations, notably with the local representatives of the UN.

    He will also keep in close contact with neighboring and other interested countries in the region.

    EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana welcomed his appointment, saying that "Sequi's role will be to take forward the implementation of EU policy in Afghanistan."