Lithuanian ex-foreign minister named EU Afghan envoy

(BRUSSELS) - EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton on Monday named Vygaudas Usackas, who recently quit as Lithuanian foreign minister, as Europe's next envoy in Afghanistan.

Ashton described Usackas as "a very talented person" following a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.

The nominee handed in his resignation as his nation's foreign minister last month amid tensions with Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite.

The pair had notably divergent opinions over a parliamentary inquiry into secret CIA prisons.

In December, Usackas broke ranks by publicly casting doubt on a parliamentary inquiry's findings that Lithuania may have hosted two secret lock-ups purportedly used by US intelligence to interrogate suspected Al-Qaeda members in 2002-2006.

Grybauskaite, meanwhile, had hailed the landmark probe.

The two fell out again this month over Grybauskaite's plan to invite hardline President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus to a ceremony in March marking 20 years since Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union.

Ashton, speaking to reporters in Brussels, said Usackas ha not resigned over the CIA prisons issue.

"I'm 100 percent satisfied that he's the right person and that I need not in any way be worried," she said.

Usackas himself expressed his delight at the appointment, promising to be worthy of the trust placed in him.