The Deputy Head of Mission does not only deputise the Head of Mission during his absences. Being a Gendarmerie general, his experience and knowledge also play a vital role in the planning and assessment of EUMM operations in the field.

In the starting phase of the mission, the Deputy Head of Mission was in charge for leading technical talks with the Russian armed forces. The main goal was to achieve a controlled take-over of control of the adjacent areas to South Ossetia and Abkhazia by the Georgian police after the Russian withdrawal.

Gilles JANVIER