European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgiahttp://eumm.eu/EUMM http://eumm.eu/i/eumm-logo2.jpg http://eumm.eu/ 54 54 http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3840/ On 20 May the Fourth School of the Gori Municipality invited EUMM Field Office Gori to attend an “open class” on European Affairs. The class took place within the framework of Europe day celebrations and gathered 25 students from the 10th grade, who answered questions related... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3839/ In order to mark EU Day, EUMM’s Field Office in Gori launched a contest aimed at schools in Didi Khurvaleti, Plavi, and Kelktseuli. School children were offered to send a personal message to EUMM in relation to the European Union’s motto “united in diversity”. On 16 May... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3838/ "The European Union is like a large umbrella that protects all people under it". This was the statement of a participant at the EU Day event organised by the Human Security Team of EUMM Field Office Mtskheta in the Prezeti public school. Gathering more than eighty children, teachers and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3837/ A delegation of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited EUMM on 15 May. They stopped by the Mission’s headquarters in Tbilisi and accompanied monitors from EUMMs Field Office in Mtskheta on a patrol to the Odzisi check point. Filip Vanden Bulcke, Desk for Eastern Europe, and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3836/ The EU Monitoring Mission welcomes the release of two Georgian citizens on 16 May, who had been held in Tskhinvali for crossing the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL). The release was preceded by negotiations over the EUMM facilitated Hotline between the de facto administration in Tskhinvali and the Georgian Ministry... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3834/ On 10 and 13 May Field Office Zugdidi of EUMM continued with events marking EU Day, this time together with civil communities of Chale and Mujava, two villages near the Abkhaz Administrative Boundary Line. Hundreds of schoolchildren, and also a team of a local municipality played in the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3833/ On 11 May the Gori municipality and its Cultural-Educational Centre of Youth and Pupils hosted an event to mark EU Day and show appreciation for EUMM’s contribution to stability in the areas adjacent to the administrative boundary lines with South Ossetia. Gathering hundreds of people, including the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3828/ On 9 May Field Office Zugdidi of EUMM, together with the local municipality and civil society marked EU Day in Zugdidi. To bring audience in, a volleyball tournament was organised with the participation of schools, universities and NGOs. Schoolchildren gave a professional concert, a DJ performed and the EUMM... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3824/ EUMM has recently noted with concern an increase of detentions near the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line. In this context, the Mission has been facilitating dialogue over the Hotline and appreciates the subsequent release of detainees from Tskhinvali. Restricting freedom of movement directly affects the livelihood of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3823/ On 6 May, the EU Monitoring Mission received a high-level delegation from the Swedish Agency for Government Employers, the Folke Bernadotte Academy and other organisations for Swedish employers and employees. The delegation was welcomed by Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, Head of Mission, and Gerard A. Fischer, Deputy Head... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3821/ The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, visited EUMMs information desk at the EU Open Day in Brussels on 04 May. President Van Rompuy enquired about the current security situation in Georgia and the missions daily monitoring activities.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3818/ The EU Monitoring Mission welcomes the release of five minors, who were held in Tskhinvali for crossing the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) in the Sachkhere region. EUMM activated the Hotline without delay upon receiving the information on 1 May and requested the immediate release of the minors,... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3815/ On 30 April a delegation of members of the Danish Parliament visited the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. They were welcomed at the Headquarters in Tbilisi by Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, Head of Mission, and Gerard A. Fischer, Deputy Head of Mission. The MPs were given a briefing about the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3806/ A British delegation visited Field Office Mtskheta of EUMM on 25 April 2013. Mr Colin Roberts, Director from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Mr David Moran, Charge dAffaires from the British Embassy in Tbilisi, received a comprehensive briefing by Mat Whatley, the Chief of the Field Office on... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3805/ On 25 April a delegation of Belgian, Luxembourgish and Dutch diplomats visited EUMM. “You can rest assured that you have the full support of our capitals,” said Jean-Arthur Régibeau, Political Director at the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Your mission projects the kind of policy, so-called ‘soft’... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3804/ On 21 and 22 April a delegation from the Police Academy Nordrhein-Westfalen visited EUMM’s Field Office in Mtskheta. The 20 participants were accompanied by Joachim Riegger, the Deputy Chief of EUMM’s Field Office in Zugdidi and leader of EUMM’s German police contingent.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3783/ On 18 April EUMM’s Field Office in Zugdidi hosted the 29th Information Sharing Meeting with 18 NGOs and civil society organisations. Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, the Head of EUMM, welcomed the participants and emphasised the importance of confidence building and cooperation with civil society. The event provided a good opportunity... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3776/ Representatives of the Georgian and de facto South Ossetian authorities, as well as Russian Federation Border Guards who operate in South Ossetia met in Ergneti on 16 April. The 33rd Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting was, as usual, co-facilitated by EUMM and OSCE and took place in a... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3775/ On 13 April the telephone Hotline was activated in response to events unfolding in Gugudiantkari, where unknown people had reportedly been demolishing a privately owned garden. The EU Monitoring Mission sent a patrol on the spot and facilitated dialogue between the security actors on both sides of the Administrative... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3767/ Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz met with Head of EUMM Andrzej Tyszkiewicz on 11 April. Minister Pelczynska-Nalecz showed great interest in freedom of movement issues along the Administrative Boundary Line with break-away Abkhazia and South Ossetia. She also enquired about the security situation in the Gali... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3766/ Senior diplomats from the United States and the eight Nordic-Baltic States, namely Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden visited EUMM’s headquarters in Tbilisi on 11 April. They are visiting Georgia within the framework of the annual meeting of the Enhanced Partnership... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3759/ On 8 April Petra Hofirkova and Jana Cechlovska, from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visited EUMM’s Field Office in Gori to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Mission and its role in the post-conflict environment. The delegation was welcomed by monitors seconded by the Czech government,... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3758/ Damon Wilson, the Executive Vice-President of the Atlantic Council paid a visit to EUMM on 09 April. Almost five years after the August 2008 conflict, he stressed the importance of finding pragmatic solutions to assist local communities living along the Administrative Boundary Lines with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3756/ Miroslav Lajčák, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic, paid a visit to EUMM on 09 April. He praised the Mission’s hard work, acknowledging the difficulty of its task, and offered his continued support to EUMM in discussions... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3748/ On 2 April Viola von Cramon, Member of the German Bundestag, visited the EUMM Field Offices in Gori and Zugdidi. MP von Cramon was accompanied by Dr Guido Müntel, Head of the Economic Section and Head of the Legal and Consular Affairs Section of the German Embassy in Tbilisi.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3741/ On 28 March the Human Security Team of EUMM’s Field Office Zugdidi attended the monthly NGO information-sharing meeting (or ISM) chaired by the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) in Kutaisi. In total fourteen NGOs from the Imereti Region, amongst which the International Society for Fair Elections... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3739/ The participants of the Geneva International Discussions have just completed their twenty-third round. In Working Group I, the participants reviewed the security situation on the ground and welcomed the continuing stability and calm observed since the previous round. The participants reiterated the need to resume the Gali... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3735/ The Spokespersons of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, and Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, made today the following statement: "High Representative/Vice President Ashton and Commissioner Füle welcome the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3727/ On 21 March Nancy Iris, the Deputy Director of the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration went on patrol to the Administrative Boundary Line with EUMM’s Field Office in Gori. The Head of the Field office, Hans Schneider, briefed her about the current security situation along the Administrative... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3719/ On 19 March Chris Perkins, the Deputy Deployments Manager of the Stabilisation Unit in the UK Government visited EUMM to gain a thorough understanding of the Mission and its role in the post conflict environment. At the Headquarters he was welcomed by Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, the Head of Mission,... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3723/ On 19 March, a delegation from the Council of Europe Secretariat, comprised of Mr. Daniil Khochabo and Ms. Tania Van Dijk, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe’s Office in Georgia, visited EUMM HQ in Tbilisi. The delegation arrived in Georgia in the framework of preparing the next, seventh... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3715/ On 18 March the 32nd meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Ergneti, co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. Participants welcomed the decreasing number of incidents, including detentions. A case of prompt release of a mother and her child- after the activation of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3707/ EUMM Field Office Gori has recently received a number of high level visits. On 11 March Charlotte Lundqvist and Ms. Nettelvik from the Swedish Embassy to Georgia; on 15 March, Eliska Zigova from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ivan Jestrab, Czech Ambassador to Georgia were received.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3705/ On 14-15 March RELEX, the Foreign Relations Counsellors Working Group of the European Commission visited the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. EUMM is the first CSDP Mission RELEX has ever visited. Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, the Head of Mission welcomed the representatives from all EU member states. The primary goal... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3702/ Hiroki Tokunaga, Chargé d’Affaires at the Japanese Embassy in Georgia has visited the Headquarters and Field Office Zugdidi of the EU Monitoring Mission. At the HQ the visitor was welcomed by Gerard A. Fischer, the Deputy Head of Mission. Being new in his position, Mr Tokunaga was briefed about... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3697/ On 7 March EUMM Field Office Zugdidi hosted the 28th Information Sharing Meeting with representatives from more than 20 NGOs and international organisations. EUMM informed about the recent activities of its three Field Offices. The main focus was on freedom of movement related issues along the Abkhaz Administrative Boundary... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3696/ Over the last week, the three Field Offices of the EU Monitoring Mission have organised a range of activities and events to mark International Women’s Day. On 7 March Field Office Gori had a video screening called “Know Your Rights!”, which aimed at raising awareness about... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3691/ On 6 and 7 March, Marko Mäntylä, a diplomat at the Finnish Embassy to Georgia and Medea Turashvili from International Crisis Group visited EUMM Field Office Gori. Hans Schneider, the Field Office Chief gave briefings about the general work of the Mission on the ground and the current... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3690/ "No matter what career you choose, you should love your profession from the very beginning", said one of the students who participated in an International Womens Day event organised by EUMM Field Office Mtskheta on 6 March. The event took place in the Mtskheta Library where three ladies with... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3687/ On the occasion of International Women’s Day, EUMM joined a nationwide campaign by Consent and Care International, about gender aspects related to property rights in Georgia. On 5 March EUMM Field Office Zugdidi and two local NGOs organised a film screening followed by a discussion to raise awareness... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3680/ On 4 March EUMM Field Office Gori organised a round table discussion in the context of International Womens Day. The event called “Inspiration and wisdom by and about women” was attended by women from different backgrounds: officials, NGO representatives and EUMM personnel. The discussion covered gender based... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3679/ On 4 March Ambassador Heidi Grau, the Head of the OSCE Task Force at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, accompanied by Swiss Ambassador Geunther Baechler and Tobias Privitelli, Regional Director at the Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland visited the EUMM Headquarters in Tbilisi. The guests were... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3672/ Following EUMM facilitated communication over the Hotline, multilateral meetings on livelihood issues took place in the villages of Gugutiantkari and Dvani on 1 March. Both villages are located along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL), where recently erected fences have directly affected the freedom of movement and livelihood... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3669/ On 1 March Gerard A. Fischer, the Acting Head of the EU Monitoring Mission had meetings with the Ambassador of Croatia, Dr Ivan Velimir Starčević, then with the Ambassador of Finland Christer Michelsson, who was accompanied by Marko Mäntylä, the Finnish Attaché in Georgia. Both Ambassadors have recently... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3666/ On 27 February EUMM Field Office Zugdidi received a visit from Charlotte Hunter, Political Officer from the British Embassy in Tbilisi and Stephen Leach, a visiting consultant from Northern Ireland. The visitors had an informative discussion with the Operation Officer and the Human Security Team Leader of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3660/ On 22 February the Human Security Team of EUMM Field Office Zugdidi gave a presentation about the Mission, its mandate, recent achievements and challenges. The event organized by the NGO ‘Salto’ was part of an EU funded study trip for Coordinators of the European Volunteers Service involved in the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3652/ On 22 February the 31st meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE took place in Ergneti. Participants reviewed recent incidents and detentions at the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL). The Georgian side raised the question of the freedom of movement of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3654/ On 21 February Colonel Maximilian Eder, NATO Military Liaison Officer in Tbilisi, visited Field Office Mtskheta. Mat Whatley, the Field Office Chief gave a comprehensive briefing on the EUMM mandate, as well as priorities and activities on the ground. Colonel Maximilian Eder joined a patrol to Odzisi, where members... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3649/ On 21 February Joshua Fischel, Regional Refugee Coordinator at the US Embassy in Georgia, visited Field Office Mtskheta. He received a comprehensive briefing from the Field Office Chief, Mat Whatley, on the EUMM mandate, Field Office activities, daily tasks and priorities. The general situation of Internally Displaced Persons, their... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3646/ On 20 February, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz met Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani, who is also the newly appointed Head of the Georgian team at the Geneva International Discussions. The purpose of the introductory meeting was to discuss conflict related... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3645/ On 19 February Field Office Zugdidi of the EU Monitoring Mission marked its 10,000th patrol. It was performed by the Human Security Team that visited a kindergarten under renovation in Tsalenjika. Under the ‘Normalisation’ pillar of its mandate the Mission monitors how the local population is able to resume... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3640/ On 19 February Mr. Shu Uchida, Political Attaché at the Embassy of Japan in Georgia, visited EUMM Field Office Gori. Hans Schneider, the Field Office Chief gave a general briefing about the mandate of EUMM and the current security situation along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) to South Ossetia.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3639/ On 18 February Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, Head of The European Union Monitoring Mission met Ambassador Antti Turunen, the United Nations Representative to the Geneva International Discussions and Chair of the Gali Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism. They exchanged information on the current security situation on the ground, issues related... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3635/ On 13 February the new Chief of EUMM Field Office Zugdidi, Gabriel von Horn, together with members of the Human Security Team met Edisher Toloraia the acting Mayor (Gamgebeli in Georgian) of Zugdidi. Mr von Horn introduced the Mission and how it concretely implements its mandate of stabilisation,... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3631/ On 14 February Mr Chris Kendall, Senior Political Adviser for relations with Georgia in the European External Action Service, visited EUMM Field Office Gori. Florentin Dicu, the Deputy Field Office Chief gave a detailed briefing about the general work of the EUMM on the ground and the current... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3630/ On 13 February EUMM hosted representatives of Embassies of EU Member States accredited in Tbilisi. At the round table discussion participants assessed the current security situation in the region and the changing environment the Mission is working in. Recent activities and challenges were also overviewed. The Mission’s contribution to... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3623/ On 7 February the Human Security Team of EUMM Field Office Zugdidi met Irakli Kochua, the newly appointed Head of regional office of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia (MRA). It was explained that although EUMM is not an... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3621/ On 5 February, Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission, together with representatives of the EUMM Field Offices and Mission management, had a meeting with the chiefs of the police units from western Georgia. The purpose of the meeting in Kutaisi was... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3616/ On January 31 Chargé d’Affaires at the British Embassy in Tbilisi, Mr David Moran joined a patrol by EUMM Field Office Zugdidi to the Rukhi Bridge, the only official crossing point between Abkhazia and Tbilisi Administered Territory. Every day approximately 500 commuters cross the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) there... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3611/ On 29 January the 30th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE took place in Ergneti. Participants exchanged information on the security situation along the Administrative Boundary Line and the ongoing process of amnesty in Georgia. EUMM... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3609/ On 28 January Rear Admiral Emmanuele Bottazzi, the Italian Defence Attaché visited the EU Monitoring Mission HQ. He was accompanied by Mr Eugenio Carlucci, the Deputy Head of the Italian Embassy in Tbilisi. They were welcomed by the Head of EUMM Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz and David Turner, Military Liaison... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3605/ During the past days EUMM has been monitoring electricity works being carried out on the Rukhi Bridge. Due to its position on the Administrative Boundary Line, prior to the works commencing EUMM liaison officers were actively involved in the use of the hotline with all security actors in the area... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3604/ On January 24 EUMM Field Office Zugdidi hosted another information sharing meeting for NGOs and international organisations operating in the Samagrelo- Zemo Svaneti region. Such meetings regularly take place in Zugdidi. This time the Field Office representatives shared findings on winterisation programmes, especially concerning IDPs and socially vulnerable families.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3601/ On 24 January Ambassador David Moran who has assumed the role of Chargé d’Affaires at the British Embassy in Tbilisi visited the EU Monitoring Mission headquarters. Ambassador Moran has previously served as the British Ambassador to Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Uzbekistan. His posting also include Nairobi, Moscow and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3598/ On 21 January the EU Monitoring Mission, together with UN Women, EUSR, OSCE and UNRGID, organised a meeting to inform civil society actors on the functioning, developments and issues of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanisms and the Geneva International Discussions. Women’s NGOs working on conflict management and confidence... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3589/ On 9 January, Ten Broeke, the Chairman of the Defence Committee of the Dutch Parliament, visited EUMM. He was welcomed at HQ by the Head of Mission, Ambassador Tyszkiewicz, and given a briefing on the role and work of the Mission and the current security situation at the Administrative Boundary Lines. "It is... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3585/ Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2013, starting from 1 January. This will be the seventh occasion on which Ireland has held the Presidency and it occurs on the fortieth anniversary of Ireland’s accession to the Union.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3582/ As real winter has arrived to Georgia, the EU Monitoring Mission continues to monitor whether conflict affected communities have the necessary resources for heating. Special patrols have been conducted to rural areas and IDP collective centres to gather information as to how the population and authorities had prepared for... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3570/ "It is very important to see how the EUMM works on the ground", said Peter Booms, the Deputy Head of the Belgian Embassy to Georgia, when he joined a Field Office Mtskheta patrol in heavy snowfall on 18 December . He also said he was very happy about his... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3569/ On 18 December the 29th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE, took place in Ergneti. Participants discussed recent detention cases and the fate of South Ossetian prisoners in Georgian prisons. The issue of a missing truck that had been... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3562/ On 12 December, within the UN Secretary General’s Campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women, the EU Monitoring Mission participated in an awareness raising rugby match. It was organised by UN Women and a team from the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Georgia played against current and former members of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3565/ On 12 December a delegation from Lithuania visited EUMM Field Office Mtskheta. The members of the delegation were Mr.Zilvinas Tomkus, Director of the International Relations Department of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence; Asta Sidlauskiene, Adviser from the International Relations Department of the Lithuanian Ministry of Defence; Donatas Katilius, Defence... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3551/ On 10 December, on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day and at the end of the 2012 “Say NO to Violence against Women and Girls" campaign, EUMM Field Office Mtskheta organised a conference at the local public library. The event was attended by representatives from local authorities,... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3546/ As part of the 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, EUMM Field Office Gori challenged local team FC Dila Gori Old Boys for an awareness raising football match. Just before the match information leaflets about the Georgian hotline for domestic violence came down from... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3545/ On the occasion of International Human Rights Day on 10 December, EUMM Field Office Gori held a conference on Minority Rights. The conference took place at the Gori State University, and was well attended by NGO representatives and students. Representatives from the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and the Office... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3535/ Today, on 10 December, we celebrate Human Rights Day. Standing up for Human Rights, democracy and the rule of law is the silver thread that runs through EU external relations. This year we look back on a productive year for the EU in human rights. The... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3537/ The European Union Monitoring Mission took part in the annual charity Christmas Expo organised by the International Women’s Association in Tbilisi on December 10. Among many local arts and crafts, and items from the Embassies in Tbilisi, the EUMM stand was once again extremely popular and successful, as hundreds... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3536/ On 7 December, the Head of the EUMM, Ambassador Tyszkiewicz, met the newly appointed Chief of the Joint Staff of the Georgian Armed Forces, Colonel Irakli Dzneladze, in Telavi. Colonel Dzneladze was attending a gathering of the Commanders and other senior staff of the Georgian Army. They discussed the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3534/ On 7 December François Delahousse, Deputy Director of the Caucasus and Central Asia, Continental Europe Branch of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited the EU Monitoring Mission Headquarters. He was accompanied by Xavier Rouard, Deputy Head of the French Embassy in Georgia. After the guests were... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3525/ Richard Norland, the US Ambassador to Georgia, visited the EU Monitoring Mission Headquarters on 5 December. He was welcomed by the Head of Mission Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz and his deputy Gerard A. Fischer. Although it was the first official visit of the US Ambassador to the EUMM HQ since... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3524/ Human rights lawyer Elena Fileeva has given an interview for the EUMM Radio Show to support the 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender based violence. Ms Fileeva is also a member of the Board of the NGO called ‘Article 42 of the Consitution’. They provide free legal assistance... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3523/ On 2 December, a delegation from Poland joined a patrol from EUMM Field Office Mtskheta to the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL). The members of the delegation were Ms Joanna Wasiewska, Desk Officer for EUMM within the Security Police Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Ms... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3518/ On 2 December, the EUMM closely monitored the situation and facilitated communication between all parties, regarding a shooting incident which took place near the Administrative Boundary Line with South Ossetia near the villages of Abano, Koda and Tsnelisi. Upon receiving the initial information that an incident had occurred, the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3516/ On 2 December Justin Friedman, the Director for Caucasus Affairs and Regional Conflicts at the U.S. Department of State and a participant in the Geneva International Discussions visited EUMM Field Office Gori. Manfred Meyer, the Field Office Chief updated Mr Friedman on recent achievements, current challenges and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3513/ On 25 November staff from Field Office Zugdidi of the EU Monitoring Mission attended the National Food Festival in Khurcha, close to the Administrative Boundary Line. The festival was aimed at bringing different communities together and drawing attention to the importance of a healthy diet. The event also encouraged... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3511/ On 27 November Field Office Zugdidi of EUMM gave a presentation about the Mission and about the 16 Days of Activism - Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls. An audience of 16-18 year old students and representatives of Atinati, a local NGO attended the interactive presentation. They... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3510/ EUMM Field Office Zugdidi is producing a new, Georgian language monthly television programme on Odishi TV. The ten episodes are going to introduce the Mission, explain its mandate and show its activities, mainly for the viewers in the Zugdidi region and in areas adjacent to the Administrative Boundary Line.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3481/ On the 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and the ensuing 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence are commemorated every year around the world to raise awareness and trigger action on this pervasive human rights violation. The EU Monitoring Mission is contributing... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/3488/ On 27 November, the 28th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE, took place in Ergneti. Participants discussed recent incidents and detention cases, the condition of South Ossetian prisoners in Georgian prisons and the fate of missing persons. The release... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3486/ During her visit to Georgia on 26 November, Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission took the opportunity to have a short meeting with the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission, Ambassador Tyszkiewicz. They briefly discussed the security situation... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3485/ On 26 November UN Women and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) organised a forum on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (2012-2015). The initiative focused on measures undertaken by women’s civil society organisations as well as government agencies in... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3478/ Violence and abuse affect women from all kinds of backgrounds every day. As many as seven in ten women around the world report having experienced physical violence at some point in their lifetime. The violence knows no geographical, cultural, social, economic or educational boundaries. It is a phenomenon... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3475/ On 22 November Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission met Ms Antje Leendertse, the Special Envoy for Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Thomas Lenk, the Deputy Head of the Caucasus Division and German Ambassador to Georgia... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3474/ On 22 November, the Rt Hon David Lidington MP, Minister for Europe in the UK Government, accompanied by the British Ambassador to Georgia , Judith Gough, visited the HQ of the EU Monitoring Mission. The Minister was welcomed by the Head of Mission Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz and other senior... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3471/ On 20 November Ambassador Tyszkiewicz, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission met Mr Kakha Kaladze, Vice Premier and Minister for Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia. Ambassador Tyszkiewicz congratulated the Minister on his appointment and expressed hope that cooperation between the Mission and the Ministry would... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3428/ The Human Security Team of EUMM Field Office Zugdidi presented an overview of the EUMM structure, mandate and its activities to the participants of the study visit ‘Youth Work Reality in Georgia’, organised by the Support, Advanced Learning and Training Opportunities within the European Youth programme Eastern Europe and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3425/ Remarks by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy following his meeting with President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3421/ Remarks by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and Statement by President Barroso following their meetings with Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3419/ On 9 November Ambassador Tyszkiewicz, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission visited the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) where he was received by the newly appointed Minister, Irakli Garibashvili. The Head of Mission remarked on the good cooperation EUMM has had with the Ministry. He underlined... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/3400/ On 6 November Ambassador Tyszkiewicz, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission paid his first official visit to the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Maia Panjikidze. The Head of Mission expressed the hope that the close cooperation the Mission had had with the Ministry on conflict...