New head of EUMM Georgia appointed

Kestutis Jankauskas has been appointed as a new Head of Mission for the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia).

 Jankauskas, from Lithuania, will succeed Mr Toivo Klaar, who had been in the position since 1 October 2013. 

He enjoys with more than 20 years of experience in the Lithuanian diplomatic service. The decision was adopted by the Council of the European Union’s (CoE) Political and Security Committee.

EUMM is an unarmed civilian monitoring mission supporting the stabilisation and normalisation of the situation on the ground, centred on full compliance with the six-point agreement signed by Georgia and Russia in August 2008. 

The Mission contributes to the reduction of tensions through liaison, facilitation of contacts between parties and other confidence-building measures.

CoE has extended the mandate of the EUMM Georgia for two years until 14 December 2016.