German gov't reshuffles diplomatic staff in major global capitals

BERLIN, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The new "grand coalition" government in Germany has begun nominating a host of new ambassadors to major global capitals on Wednesday.

In a first step of the wider diplomatic personnel reshuffle, Emily Haber, previously secretary of state in the interior ministry, has been named as the new and first female German ambassador to the United States in Washington DC. Her predecessor Peter Wittig will return to Europe after a four-year transatlantic stint to head the German embassy in London.

Additionally, the current German ambassador to China Michael Clauss will be transferred to Brussels where he will serve as Germany's ambassador to the European Union (EU). A successor to take over Clauss' post in Beijing has not been named yet.

Contrary to earlier reports, the German ambassador in Paris Nikolau Meyer-Landrut will remain at his post in France for the foreseeable future. The decision was justified on the grounds of particularly intense ongoing Franco-German diplomatic cooperation in the context of planned European Union reforms. Enditem