Georgian PM thanks EUMM mission head for “effective work”
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday held a farewell meeting with Marek Szczygieł, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia. Photo: Government press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday thanked Marek Szczygieł, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, for “effective work” in office, ahead of the end of term in the mission for the official.
Praising the role of the EUMM - the only foreign mission in the country observing developments adjacent to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) - the head of the Government highlighted the mission’s role in prevention of tensions and ensuring security on the ground.
- EUMM Georgia marks 14th anniversary in country as only foreign mission monitoring Russian occupation
Garibashvili said along with “other valuable tools” of the EU, the presence of the monitoring Mission in the country “clearly reflects the important role of the bloc in dealing with the consequences of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war and the peaceful resolution of conflicts”.
Video by EUMM Georgia: "it highlights who we are, what we do, but especially why we are doing it. Our main objective remains unchanged: to contribute to stability in Georgia and the wider region".
Szczygiel, a long-serving Polish diplomat who took the position in February 2020, in September of this year said the mission was conducting around 15 patrols a day, or around 100 a week, along the occupation lines, at an event marking the 14th anniversary of the EUMM in Georgia.
Based on the mission’s four lines of operation with regards to the occupation - stabilisation, normalisation, confidence-building and informing EU policy - the EU official highlighted a “constant communication” with the Georgian Government to prevent incidents.
EUMM Georgia was deployed in September 2008, following an EU-mediated ceasefire which ended the war between Russia and Georgia in August of that year, however Russia and de facto authorities have prevented its access to the occupied regions.
- See Agenda.ge multimedia: EU’s eyes and ears on Russia’s creeping occupation of Georgia
Headquartered in Tbilisi, the mission has field offices in the central Georgian city of Gori - near occupied Tskhinvali - as well as the central-eastern city of Mtskheta and Zugdidi in the west of the country, near occupied Abkhazia.
Marek Szczygieł, the head of the European Union monitoring mission in Georgia, on Wednesday hosted a delegation of the Council of European Union Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia in the central Georgian village of Odzisi, adjacent to the country’s Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, to brief them about consequences of the occupation.
The European Union Monitoring Mission, the only foreign mission in Georgia observing activities adjacent to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), celebrated the 14th anniversary of its presence in the country on Thursday.
The State Security Service of Georgia reported today that the occupying forces carried out illegal activities near the village of Orchosani in occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, which "are provocative and harm the security environment on the ground”.
Marek Szczygiel the new head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Georgia said he is “looking forward to working with the great and dedicated team” of the mission. Szczygiel, a long serving Polish diplomat, was officially appointed as the EUMM head earlier today.
The European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, the only foreign mission in the country observing developments adjacent to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia), on Thursday inaugurated its new headquarters in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.
The Council of the European Union has appointed Dimitrios Karabalis, a Greek diplomat, as the new Head of Mission for the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, by the decision of the Political and Security Committee, the Council announced on Tuesday.
Activities of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia and the current developments in the wider region were discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Dimitrios Karabalis, the newly appointed EUMM Head in Georgia.
Dimitrios Karabalis, the head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, on Tuesday responded to the 15th anniversary of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war by saying “consequences of armed conflicts are long-lasting, and the road to reconciliation and recovery can be challenging”.