European Union’s newly appointed Special Representative to the South Caucasus, Philippe Lefort will extend the mandate to include contributing to peaceful settlement of conflicts in line with international law norms and implementation of agreements in coordination with the UN, OSCE and Minsk Group, according to Vzglyad daily.

The mandate also envisages fostering contacts with authorities, parliaments and other key political entities, juridical authorities and civil communities, encouraging the countries of the region to collaborate on issues of mutual concern, combating terrorism, illegal trafficking and organized crime, the report says.

Philippe Lefort was French ambassador to Georgia (2004-2007) and deputy head of mission at the French embassy in Russia (2007-2010). Since 2010, he has been head of the Continental Europe Department at the French Foreign Ministry.