EU appoints new Head of its Monitoring Mission in Georgia
The Greek diplomat succeeds Polish Szczygieł, who has been in charge of the mission since 2020. Photo via European Council official website
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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.
Karabalis is currently the Director for Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, South Caucasus, and Central Asia in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, and his mandate as the Head of EUMM Georgia will run from 1 February until 14 December 2023.
The Greek diplomat succeeds Polish Marek Szczygieł, who has been in charge of the mission since 2020.
Today the Council of the ???????? appointed Dimitrios Karabalis, a ???????? diplomat, as the new Head of EUMM in ????????. We are looking forward to welcome Amb Karabalis soon in Tbilisi & to continue to contribute to stability in Georgia under his leadership.
— EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (@EUMMGeorgia) January 31, 2023
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EUMM Georgia was deployed in October 2008, following the EU-mediated ceasefire Agreement, putting an end to 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.
The mission’s mandate consists of stabilisation, normalisation and confidence building, as well as reporting to the EU in order to inform European policy-making and thus contribute to the future EU engagement in the region.
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.
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.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday held a farewell meeting with Ambassador Marek Szczygieł, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, with the latter’s diplomatic term in the country coming to a close.
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.
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.
The security situation near the Russian occupation line and in the Russian-occupied regions of Georgia, and release of Georgian citizens illegally detained by de facto authorities in the territories were discussed on Monday in a meeting between Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the Georgian State Security Service and Dimitrios Karabalis, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia.
Cooperation between the European Union Monitoring Mission and the Georgian Ministry of Defence was discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian Defence Minister Juansher Burchuladze and Dimitrios Karabalis, the newly appointed EUMM Head in Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said the European Union Monitoring Mission - which observes developments adjacent to the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) - was a “symbol of the close cooperation” and “strong support” from “our European friends”.