EU ambassador to Turkey resigns

By Ata Ufuk Seker

BRUSSELS

EU Ambassador to Turkey Hansjorg Haber's mission will end on Aug. 1, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief said Tuesday.

Maja Kocijancic told Anadolu Agency that Haber had resigned but would carry on with his duty as EU envoy until Aug. 1.

Kocijancic added that necessary steps would be immediately taken to appoint a new head of the EU delegation in Ankara.

The spokeswoman gave no reason for Haber’s resignation.

Haber, a career German diplomat, had been heading the EU delegation in Turkey since last October.

Last month, Haber told journalists that Turkey’s European Union accession bid had been the reverse of the German proverb, "Starting like a Turk, finishing like a German," meaning starting something with enthusiasm and continuing with determination and discipline.

Following the controversial remarks, Haber was summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

*Anadolu Agency Correspondent Emin Avundukluoglu contributed to this story from Ankara.