EU appoints new special representative for South Caucasus

The Council adopted, by written procedure, a decision to appoint Philippe Lefort as the
European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, EU reported.

The decision, based on a proposal from the High Representative of the Union for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, covers the initial period from
1 September 2011 until 30 June 2012.

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.

In order to achieve the Union's policy objectives, the mandate includes the development of
contacts with governments, parliaments, other key political actors, the judiciary and civil
society in the region; encouraging the countries in the region to cooperate on regional
themes of common interest, such as common security threats, the fight against terrorism,
illicit trafficking and organised crime; and contributing to the peaceful settlement of
conflicts in accordance with the principles of international law and to facilitate the
implementation of such settlement in close coordination with the United Nations, the OSCE
and its Minsk Group.

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/