Mogherini candidature as EU foreign minister 'a hypothesis'

Netherlands supports Mogherini to succeed Baroness Ashton

(ANSA) Luxembourg, June 23 - Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini acknowledged Monday her possible candidature to become High Representative for European Foreign Policy "is a hypothesis" under consideration by Premier Matteo Renzi's government.

"As far as the hypothesis about me is concerned, it is a hypothesis," she told reporters. However she added that "I am focussed on doing what is my job at the moment, which is very beautiful and very demanding and makes me proud: being foreign minister of the Italian republic, I am concentrating on that". Earlier her Dutch counterpart, Frans Timmermans, told reporters that "without doubt" Mogherini "is a good candidate" to replace Britain's Baroness Catherine Ashton.