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European Union appoints Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia

26 August 2011 11:27 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The European Union appointed Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, APA reports quoting the EUâ€™s website. Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, welcomed the appointment of Philippe Lefort as European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.

"I am very pleased that we are appointing Philippe Lefort to this important position.
Philippe Lefort has an in-depth knowledge of the region and years of experience working there at the very highest level. 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. I very much look forward to working with him", Ashton said.

Previously, Peter Semneby was the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and Pierre Morel â€“ the EU Special Representative for the crisis in Georgia.

Philippe 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.