EU envoy to meet with Armenian President

PanARMENIAN.Net - The new European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, ambassador Philippe Lefort, will be in Armenia on September 7 as part of his first visit to the region.

According to the EU press center, during his stay in Yerevan, ambassador Lefort is expected to meet the President of the Republic of Armenia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense, the Secretary of the National Security Council, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.

Yerevan visit will be preceded by a visit to Baku.

Philippe Lefort was appointed as EUSR for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia by Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in late August. Later came reports on Lefort extending the mandate. It encompasses contributing to the peaceful resolution of conflicts in line with international law norms and implementation of agreements in coordination with the UN, OSCE and Minsk Group.

The EUSR’s mandate also envisages fostering ties with governments, 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.

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.