Brussels, 26/08/2011 (Agence Europe) - Philippe Lefort was appointed by the Council of Ministers of the EU on Friday 26 August as the European Union's Special Representative (EUSR) for the Southern Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, acting on a proposal submitted by the EU chief diplomat, Catherine Ashton. He has been appointed for an initial term running from 1st September to 30 June 2012. He replaces Pierre Morel, who took over from Peter Semneby as EUSR for the Southern Caucasus on 1st March.
In order to meet the European Union's general policy objectives, the EUSR is responsible for establishing contact with governments, parliaments, other political leaders, the judiciary and civil society in the region, encouraging them to cooperate on regional issues of common interest, like fighting terrorism, security, trafficking and organised crime, and helping settle conflicts peacefully in line with international law. The EUSR works closely with the United Nations, the OSCE and the Minsk Group to ensure that solutions are properly implemented.
Philippe Lefort, a French diplomat, has more than 20 years of experience, with long periods of time spent in the Caucasus and Russia, including a spell as French ambassador to Georgia from 2004 to 2007 and deputy head of mission at the French Embassy in Russia from 2007 to 2010. Since 2010, he has headed the central European department at the French foreign and European ministry. Catherine Ashton issued a press release congratulating him on his new job. (O.L./transl.fl)