EEAS delegation observes crossing point to occupied Tskhinvali
The EUMM Head of Mission, Dimitrios Karabalis highlighted that the mission, together with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, was continuing to advocate for a “full re-opening” of the crossing points during the most recent meeting with the de facto authorities in the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism platform. Photo via EUMM in Georgia
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The European External Action Service delegation on Wednesday visited the Odzisi crossing point in central Georgia, adjacent to the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, to hear from the European Union Monitoring mission about the security situation and recent developments in the area.
Photo via EUMM in Georgia
The EUMM monitors briefed the delegation on the “continued difficulties” the local population on both sides of the crossing point face, including the extended closures of the crossing point for regular traffic by the de facto authorities of the occupied region. They explained the moves and the regular “borderisation” activities on shifting the occupation line had led to restrictions on the freedom of movement of the conflict-affected population.
Today @EUMMGeorgia_HoM Dimitrios Karabalis briefed ???????? colleagues from @eu_eeas delegation on the continued difficulties the conflict-affected population in #Georgia faces along the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line. #TeamEurope
— EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (@EUMMGeorgia) March 15, 2023
???? More info: https://t.co/MvO8mIp7Nt pic.twitter.com/zB8iF4dmqo
The EUMM Head of Mission, Dimitrios Karabalis highlighted that the mission, together with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, was continuing to advocate for a “full re-opening” of the crossing points during the most recent meeting with the de facto authorities in the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism platform.
The EEAS representatives thanked the mission for their “dedicated” service and its contribution to stability in Georgia and the wider region.
An Austrian delegation led by Chancellor Karl Nehammer on Monday visited the Odzisi crossing point in central Georgia, adjacent to the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, to hear from the European Union Monitoring Mission about developments in the area.
A meeting between Georgian and Abkhaz participants was hosted on Tuesday in Belgrade to discuss ongoing efforts to account for 1,941 people missing from the 1992-1993 armed conflict in Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region.
The current situation in Georgia’s Russian-occupied territories and near the occupation line, as well as security challenges in the country and “borderisation” activities on shifting the occupation line, was discussed on Wednesday by Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the Georgian State Security Service and Toivo Klaar, the European Union's Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in the country.
The “severe” situation in security environment, humanitarian and human rights in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia and along the occupation line were discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Dimitrios Karabalis, the new Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia.
The current issues of the Georgia-EU agenda and the progress made by the country on its European Union integration path, including fulfilling the 12-point conditions outlined by the European Council for granting the country candidate membership status, were discussed on Wednesday by Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili, the European External Action Service delegation and representatives of the European Commission.