Norwegian FM visits occupation line in Georgia for brief on Russia’s occupation activities
The European Union Monitoring Mission on Tuesday hosted Anniken Huitfeldt, the foreign minister of Norway, at the occupation line. Photo: EUMM Georgia
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Anniken Huitfeldt, the foreign minister of Norway, on Tuesday visited sections of the administrative boundary line in central Georgia’s village of Khurvaleti that separates the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country.
Hosted by the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia - the only foreign mission in the country observing activities adjacent to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali - and its head Marek Szczygieł, the Norwegian official was briefed over the most recent developments on the ground.
Both in the village of Patara Khurvaleti and later in Didi Khurvaleti in Gori municipality, EUMM monitors briefed the foreign official and her delegation on the security situation in the area, with a focus on ‘borderisation’ and negative impacts on freedom of movement and other human rights of conflict-affected communities.
Today, @EUMMGeorgia_HoM Marek Szczygieł hosted ???????? Foreign Minister @AHuitfeldt on a visit to parts of the Administrative Boundary Line with South Ossetia, in the Khurvaleti area. @NorwayMFA
— EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (@EUMMGeorgia) October 17, 2022
???? More info: https://t.co/ayKkh1lVnV pic.twitter.com/Qop7pF7Fkt
The discussions also involved specific challenges facing communities living along the ABL in their daily life, which the mission said had been “further amplified” by the de-facto authorities’ closing of crossing points that has prevented residents in the occupied territories from buying everyday items or receiving necessary services - including quality medical aid - on the Tbilisi-controlled territory.
In his remarks, the EUMM mission head explained that two crossing points along the ABL with Tskhinvali - Odzisi and Karzmani - were now open between the 20th and 30th dates of each month until December 2022, a move he said had come after “repeated calls” by the mission and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe for a full resumption of freedom of movement across the ABL.
At the end of the visit, the Norwegian foreign minister expressed her gratitude for the “insightful visit” and EUMM’s contribution to stability in Georgia and the wider region.
It was a privilege to host ???????? Foreign Minister @AHuitfeldt on a field visit to the Administrative Boundary Line with South Ossetia in the Khurvaleti area. I highlighted the very concrete challenges that local communities continue to face in their daily life. @NorwayMFA pic.twitter.com/dbkG6oV0pi
— Marek Szczygieł (@EUMMGeorgia_HoM) October 17, 2022
The mission is deployed along the line that marks the occupation following Russia’s recognition of independence of the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions following the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia.
Only four other countries – Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru and Syria – have since shared Russia’s position regarding the status of the occupied territories, with the rest of the international community maintaining the regions are parts of Georgia under Russian occupation.
Huitfeldt’s visit of the occupation boundary came following her meeting with Georgian officials on Monday, where Huitfeldt said Georgia had taken “important steps” in terms of democratisation and good governance, and expressed her desire to see the process continue.