27.8.2011 Official Journal of the European Union L 221/5 DECISIONS COUNCIL DECISION 2011/518/CFSP of 25 August 2011 appointing the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Articles 28, 31(2) and 33 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1) On 20 February 2006, the Council adopted Joint Action 2006/121/CFSP (*) appointing Mr Peter ~SEMNEBY European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus. The mandate of Mr Peter SEMNEBY expired on 28 February 2011. (20  On 25 September 2008, the Council adopted Joint Action 2008/760/CFSP () appointing Mr Pierre MOREL European Union Special Representative for the crisis in Georgia. The mandate of Mr Pierre MOREL expires on 31 August 2011. (3) A European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia should be appointed for the period from 1 September 2011 to 30 June 2012. (4)  The mandate of the EUSR will be implemented in the context of a situation which may deteriorate and could impede the achievement of the objectives of the Union’s external action as set out in Article 21 of the Treaty, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Atticle 1 Appointment Mr Philippe LEFORT is hereby appointed European Union Special Representative (EUSR) for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia for the period from 1 September 2011 until 30 June 2012. The mandate of the EUSR may be terminated earlier, if the Council so decides, on a proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HR). () O] L 49, 21.2.2006, p. 14. () OJ L 259, 27.9.2008, p 16. Atrticle 2 Policy objectives The mandate of the EUSR shall be based on the policy objectives of the Union for the South Caucasus, including the objectives set out in the Conclusions of the extraordinary European Council meeting in Brussels on 1 September 2008 and the Council Conclusions of 15 September 2008. Those objectives include: (a) in accordance with the existing mechanisms, including the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and its Minsk Group, to prevent conflicts in the region, to contribute to a peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region, including the crisis in Georgia and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, by promoting the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and through other appropriate means, and to support the implemen- tation of such a settlement in accordance with the principles of international law; (b) to engage constructively with main interested actors concerning the region; (¢0) to encourage and to support further cooperation between Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and, as appropriate, their neighbouring countries; (d) to enhance the Union’s effectiveness and visibility in the region. Article 3 Mandate In order to achieve the policy objectives, the mandate of the EUSR shall be: (a) to develop contacts with governments, parliaments, other key political actors, the judiciary and civil society in the region; (b) to encourage the countries in the region to cooperate on regional themes of common interest, such as common security threats, the fight against terrorism, illicit trafficking and organised crime;