Catherine Ashton: Appointment of new special representative will increase EU's role in South Caucasus

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission, Catherine Ashton, welcomed the appointment of Philippe Lefort as European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.

The decision to appoint Lefort as European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, based on a proposal from Catherine Ashton, covers the initial period from 1 September 2011 until 30 June 2012, EU reported.

Mr Lefort replaces Pierre Morel who served as EUSR for the crisis in Georgia until 31 August 2011 and Peter Semneby who served as EUSR for the South Caucasus until 28 February 2011.

"I am confident that he is an ideal choice for the EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia and that he will enhance the EU's role in this sensitive region, "Ashton said.

"Lefort has an in-depth knowledge of the region and years of experience working there at the very highest level, "she said.

Lefort is a French diplomat of more than 20 years' experience. He has devoted large parts of his career to the Caucasus and Russia, among other things as French Ambassador in Georgia (2004-2007) and as Deputy Head of Mission at the French Embassy in Russia (2007-2010).

Since 2010, he has been the Head of Continental Europe General Directorate at the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.


/Trend/