Sign of support: Mogherini visits occupation line in Georgia

The European Union (EU) supports Georgia’s territorial integrity and as a clear sign of this support the EU’s top official has travelled to the area where Russia violates Georgian borders.

Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission visited the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and the rest of Georgia to witness the tense situation and hard living conditions of locals yesterday.

"[The visit] is, I believe, a concrete, visible sign of the support of the European Union action to Georgia's territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders,” Mogherini said.

"You know you can always count on us to reiterate this principle and to concretely work for these principles to turn into a reality.”

#Georgia@FedericaMog visits EUMM monitoring mission at Khurvaleti, on the administrative boundary line pic.twitter.com/cmaeHRwsfr

— Sabrina Bellosi (@sabellosi) November 10, 2015

Mogherini visited the ABL together with the EU monitors in Georgia. The head of EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Kestutis Jankauskas and the Chief of the Gori field office Mat Whatley, briefed her about the latest developments on the ground.

"I am proud that I have heard during my meetings [with Georgian authorities] today a sense of recognition of the role of the Monitoring Mission that the European Union is having here and we hope we can contribute to create a stable, normal and trustful environment in all of Georgia,” Mogherini said.

The EU official paid a one-day first-ever official visit to Georgia yesterday. During her visit she met Georgia’s Prime Minister, President, Parliament Speaker and representatives of non-governmental organisations.