EUSR is in Azerbaijan

European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, Ambassador Philippe Lefort, has arrived in Azerbaijan, informs the “APA” news agency.

According to the source during his visit to Baku Philippe Lefort has stated to the journalists at the airport that his visit witnesses the fact that the region is important for the EU.

“EU has a lot to do in the region. EU is interested in the South Caucasus is. That is why I wished to visit the capitals of three countries of the region just after taking the office,” Ph. Lefort noted.

According to the information in Baku he will have meetings with the president of Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister, Minister of Defense, as well as with the speaker of the parliament after which he will leave for Tbilisi.

EU representative also stated that problems that are present in the region will be discussed during the meetings. This is Philippe Lefort’s first visit to the region after his appointment.

The new European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, Ambassador Philippe Lefort, will be in Armenia on 7 September as part of his first visit to the region. During his stay in Yerevan, Ambassador Lefort is expected to meet the President of the Republic of Armenia, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of the National Security Council, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.

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. On 1 September 2011, Ambassador Lefort started his duties as new EUSR for the South Caucasus.