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/press_releases/2953/ On 21 February the 20th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Ergneti. The event was co-facilitated by the EU Monitoring Mission and the OSCE. Participants reviewed the general situation and recent incidents in the vicinity of the Georgian-South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2952/ Ambassador Pádraig Murphy, the new Special Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office for the South Caucasus and his staff recently visited the Mtskheta Field Office of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia. The deputy chief of the Field Office briefed them on the work of the monitors there... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2951/ Despite the harsh weather and challenging road conditions in recent weeks, the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia has continued to patrol the areas adjacent to the Administrative Boundary Lines of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The area close to the South Ossetian ABL has been especially difficult with mountainous, often... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2946/ On 31 January the thirty third meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Gali. The discussion was chaired by the United Nations and was conducted in a businesslike, professional manner. The participants discussed cases of detentions, exchanged information on a missing person and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2943/ On 24 January, the 19th IPRM meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EU Monitoring Mission and the OSCE. Participants reviewed recent incidents and detentions, the fate of those who remain in prison, and the exchange of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2900/ I would like to wish you good spirits and blessings for the Holiday Season and throughout the coming year. May the New Year find you healthy, happy and prosperous! Best wishes, Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2891/ On 21 December, the 18th IPRM meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. Participants reviewed recent incidents and detentions. There was also a discussion about safety measures to deal with... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2875/ On December 10 the International Women’s Association in Georgia organised a Christmas Expo in Sheraton Metechi Palace Hotel in Tbilisi. Among many artisans, craftsmen and embassies of various countries the European Union Monitoring Mission also took part in the charity fair that attracted thousands of people. At the EUMM... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2872/ The European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) supports the UN Secretary General’s UNITE to End Violence against Women Campaign. On December 2 the UN resident coordinator hosted a high level meeting in Tbilisi. The meeting aimed to raise awareness in the framework on the 16... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2876/ On 30 November 2011, the thirty second meeting in the framework of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, took place in Gali. Participants discussed recent detention cases in the areas adjacent to the administrative boundary line and exchanged information on those... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2863/ From 23-25 November, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission, Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, visited Moscow for meetings with the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Grigory Karasin and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Border Service and the Ministry of Defence. The visit... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2860/ A delegation of the European People’s Party of the European Parliament paid a visit to the EUMM headquarters in Tbilisi on 24 November. After being welcomed by Gerard Fischer, the Deputy Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, the delegation was briefed about the general situation... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2857/ On 22 November, the 17th IPRM meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. Participants reviewed recent incidents, detentions and the situation concerning those who are in prison. The regime at the crossing... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2848/ On her three day visit to the South Caucasus, Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Commission Vice-President met the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz on Wednesday. The High Representative was briefed on the general situation in Georgia,... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2835/ On 28 October EUMM HQ received a visit of the Chief of Defence of Poland, General Mieczyslaw Cieniuch . After welcome by the Head of Mission, the General and his accompanying military staff were provided with the briefing on the mandate and activities of the Mission,... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2834/ The thirty-first meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, took place in Gali on 26 October 2011. Participants discussed the general security situation since the last meeting in September, particularly alleged violations of the Administrative Boundary Line. Participants also discussed... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2833/ A series of eight lectures about Europe was developed by Field Office Gori of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. The first of the series, that is organised at Gori University was held on 27 October. The topics were the founding of the European Union, and some... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2830/ The 16th IPRM meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani on 21 October. The constructive meeting was co-facilitated by the European Monitoring Mission and the OSCE Special Representative. The participants discussed recent incidents... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2823/ The Field Office Mtskheta of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia launched a competition for schools and kindergartens in the Shida Kartli region. 2.200 children of six schools and three kindergartens expressed how they viewed the EUMM and its work. After... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2822/ During their field trip to Georgia, a delegation of the Working Group on Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the EU Council visited the European Union Monitoring Mission to see their job at first hand on 15 October. The delegates were welcomed by Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, the Head of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2815/ From 5-8 October, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland co-organised a series of concerts in Georgia to reflect the Polish EU Presidency and EUMM visibility. The Rzeszow Klezmer Band from Poland played in Tbilisi, Zugdidi and Tserovani.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2812/ On Monday 3 October the EU Monitoring Mission Field Office in Mtskheta is launching a competition about the work of the Mission in 10 schools in the region of Shida Kartli. Children, divided into groups based on their grade in school, will have the opportunity to make or to... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2806/ The new Head of EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia Mr. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz held a reception 22nd Sep at the Radisson Blue Hotel. Ambassador Tyszkiewicz welcomed the numerous guests and thanked the mission members for their input: “I consider this appointment to be both an honour and a... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2803/ Thirtieth meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, took place in Gali on 20 September 2011. Participants discussed general security situation since the last meeting in July which was assessed as calm. A follow up on the matters discussed during... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2795/ The General Affairs Council of the European Union adopted on 12 September 2011 a decision to extend the mandate of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia until 14 September 2012. EUMM began its operations on 1 October 2008 as a result of the Six-Point agreement... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2784/ On Tuesday 6 September, the new EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, Ambassador Phillipe Lefort, visited the EUMM HQ in Tbilisi. He was welcomed by the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission, Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz. M Lefort took the opportunity to outline... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2787/ On 5 Sep 2011 The First Deputy Minister of Defence for Georgia Mr Nodar Kharshiladze and the EUMM Head of Mission Mr Andrzej Tyszkiewicz signed a Technical Agreement (TA) with the Georgian Ministry of Defence which makes provision for helicopter medical evacuation assistance for EUMM personnel should they need... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2790/ The first EUMM Run organized by the Field Office in Gori on 3rd of September was a great success. 66 runners from various groups in Georgia and from different international organizations attended the cross country run in and around Gori itself. The race started at 18:00 in the park... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2781/ On 2 September the 15th IPRM meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. Participants reviewed recent incidents, the latest position of those recently detained and those currently in prison. The safety of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2776/ There have been a number of claims and reports in recent days that a so called “peace march” is to take place tomorrow, 26 August, with the intention of causing provocation in the vicinity of the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) . The EU Monitoring Mission takes... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2773/ Hundreds of local children, teenagers and adults had the opportunity to enjoy the lively, up tempo Balkan and Gypsy music of the British band “The Trans Siberian March Band” in the centre of old Mtskheta at lunchtime on Tuesday 23 August and at the Tserovani IDP settlement in... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2751/ On 27 July 2011, the President of the Republic of Poland paid a visit to the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia as part of an official trip to Georgia. He was accompanied by HM Ambassador Urszula Doroszewska and senior personnel of the Polish President Chancellery, Ministry of... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2745/ On 28 July, the 14th IPRM meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. This was the first meeting attended by the new Head of the EUMM, Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz. Participants reviewed recent... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2744/ The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) Field Office in Gori is pleased to announce that a Summer Music Festival is going to take place in Stalin Square in Gori on Friday, 29 July 2011 at 19.00. You are all welcome to come along to this event.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2741/ The new Head of the EU Monitoring Mission, Mr Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, whose appointment was announced by Brussels on 5 July, formally takes up his post today. He will be in Brussels for several days in a series of introductory meetings and briefings before coming to the Mission... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2737/ The twenty ninth meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, took place in Gali on 14 July 2011. This was the second anniversary of the launch of this IPRM. Participants discussed recent events, including the latest situation of one detention case... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2734/ The EU Monitoring Mission regrets the death of Nino Koberidze in an incident in Knolevi, close to the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line, on the evening of 11 July 2011. While the details of the incident remain unclear, and are subject to further investigation by the Georgian... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2731/ On 5 July 2011, Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, welcomed the decision by the Political and Security Committee to appoint Andrzej Tyszkiewicz as Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. "I am very pleased that Member States have decided on the basis... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2728/ From 1 July 2011, for the first time since its accession to the European Union in 2004, Poland takes over the rotating six month Presidency of the European Union from Hungary. As the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Poland will be responsible for organising and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2724/ The Humanitarian and Human Rights Issues Team of Field Office Mtskheta invited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) children living in the Tserovani settlement to participate in numerous outdoor activities prepared specially for them. Around 300 children and school students, together with their parents, gathered on 23 June at the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2718/ On 22 June, a delegation of Defence Attachés from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and Norway, all based in Ankara, paid a visit to the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. At the EUMM Headquarters they were welcomed by the EUMM Head of Operations, Gerard Fischer, and received a general... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2715/ The twenty eighth meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, took place in Gali on 21 June 2011. In a constructive and professional manner, participants exchanged additional information on a specific case concerning the detention of a local resident. This discussion... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2710/ On 20 June, Grzegorz Schetyna, Marshall of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, paid a visit to the EUMM Field Office in Mtskheta. He was accompanied by HM Ambassador Urszula Doroszewska. Mr Schetyna received a briefing on the role and work of the Mission... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2709/ On Friday 17 June the Interim Head of EUMM, Jussi Sarasselo, joined OSCE Ambassador Giedrius Cekuolis, Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia Ambassador Philip Dimitrov and the Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Mr Ramaz Nikolaishvili, for the formal opening of an 800,000 euro irrigation water supply project... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2703/ On 17 June the 13th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. Participants reviewed recent incidents, detentions and the situation of those who remain in custody. A proposal for a joint visit to... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2700/ On 16 June, Laurie Bristow, a senior official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, whose responsibilities include Georgia, visited EUMM Field Office Mtskheta. He was accompanied by HM Ambassador Judith Gough and senior staff from EUMM HQ. Mr Bristow was given a briefing on the overall role and work... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2697/ The twenty seventh meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM), chaired by the United Nations, took place in Gali on 20 May 2011. Participants discussed recent incidents, including the detention of a local resident on suspicion of committing a serious crime and the death of an... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2694/ On Monday 6 June the Minister for International Security Strategy from the British Ministry of Defence, Gerald Howarth MP, visited EUMM HQ as part of an official trip to Tbilisi. He was given a briefing about the work and role of the Mission, recent incidents, challenges, progress and future... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2692/ Following the serious incident that took place close to the South Ossetian administrative boundary line on 18 May, resulting in civilian casualties, the EU Monitoring Mission has been gathering information from eyewitnesses, the local population, the local police and medical personnel about what may have occurred. On the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2689/ The EU Monitoring Mission is aware that the Georgian law enforcement authorities have increased their presence in the areas adjacent to the South Ossetian administrative boundary line as part of enhanced security measures. The Mission is in regular contact with the Georgian authorities about the current situation... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2685/ On 20 May 2011, a senior delegation of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia paid a visit to the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. The delegation was welcomed by the Head of Head of Mission’s office, Björn Kühne, who... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2634/ The EU Monitoring Mission deplores the serious shooting incident that took place on 18 May close to the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line, in which two Georgian civilians were wounded, one of whom is in a critical condition. Once the Mission was informed of the incident, it responded... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2635/ During the week of 9 to 15 May 2011, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia invited inhabitants of 15 towns and villages across Georgia to celebrate together the 61st anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which is known as Europe Day. //... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2629/ On 12 May 2011, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, Karel Schwarzenberg, paid a visit to the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia. The EUMM Interim Head of Mission, Jussi Saressalo, and the Field Office Gori Chief, Manfred Mayer, briefed Minister... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2628/ As part of the EU DAY celebrations this year the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) has a wide range of events taking place across the country during the week beginning on May 9. This includes EUMM BUS TOUR to a number of villages, where EUMM staff will be explaining the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2625/ On 5 May the 12th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. Participants reviewed recent incidents, including detentions on both sides. In addition, South Ossetian participants informed the meeting of measures to... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2622/ European Member of Parliament and Chair of the EU Parliament’s Subcommittee on Security and Defence, Monsieur Arnaud Danjean, visited EUMM HQ in Tbilisi on 3 May during his current visit to Georgia. He was briefed by Interim Head of Mission, Jussi Saresselo, about the role and work of the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2619/ After two and a half years as the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission, Ambassador Haber has left Georgia to take up his new post as the EU Civilian Operations Commander and Head of the EU Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) in Brussels. At his final press conference... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2617/ On 19 April 2011, a delegation of U.S. Senators led by Arizona Senator John Kyl paid a visit to the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. The delegation was met by Jussi Saressalo, Deputy Head of Mission. They received a briefing about the Mission’s achievements and challenges, the environment... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2610/ On 7 April 2011, the 11th meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, covering the South Ossetian theatre, took place in Dvani. The meeting was co-facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. Participants reviewed recent incidents, and discussed finding a solution to those currently detained on both... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2606/ On 28 March 2011, the European Union’s High Representative Catherine Ashton announced that the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, Ambassador Hansjörg Haber, has been appointed as EU Civilian Operations Commander and Head of the EU Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC) in Brussels.... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2595/ The twenty sixth IPRM meeting, under UN chairmanship, took place in Gali on Tuesday 22 March 2011. In a constructive and professional manner, participants agreed on a code of conduct for patrols when they approached certain points at the Administrative Boundary Line. They also declared they... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2591/ On 16 March 2011, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Mr Audronius Ažubalis, paid a visit to the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. He was accompanied by the Lithuanian Ambassador to Georgia, Mr Ionas Paslauskas and the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Special Representative, Mr... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2584/ On 11 March 2011, the 10th meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism covering the South Ossetian theatre took place in Ergneti. The meeting was co-facilitated by EUMM and OSCE. Participants discussed a comprehensive solution to the detention problem, improvements to the freedom of movement along... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2543/ On 8 March 2011, the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia marked the 100 th Anniversary of International Women’s Day with various events to acknowledge the strengths and achievements of women and raise awareness of gender equality. A moving and innovative exhibition, presenting photographs... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2535/ Under the auspices of the UN, the Georgian Government, the Russian and de facto Abkhaz authorities as well as the EUMM attended the twenty fifth Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting in Gali on Tuesday, 25 February 2011. In a respectful and professional manner, participants clarified the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2522/ The 9th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting covering the South Ossetian theatre took place in Ergneti on Friday 4 February. The meeting was facilitated by the EUMM and the OSCE. Participants reviewed incidents that had taken place along the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) since... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2519/ Under UN chairmanship, the Georgian Government, the Russian and de facto Abkhaz authorities as well as the EUMM attended the twenty fourth IPRM meeting in Gali on Monday 31 January 2011. In a respectful and professional manner, participants discussed recent incidents and evaluated the general security situation... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2503/ From 1 January 2011, Hungary takes over the rotating six month Presidency of the European Union from Belgium. As the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Hungary will be responsible for organising and chairing all the meetings of the Council except for the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2495/ It has already become a tradition that the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia celebrates International Human Rights Day with various events throughout the country. This year, the EUMM Field Office Mtskheta – after delivering a well received presentation on human rights issues - invited students from Tbilisi State University... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2485/ The eighth regular meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism took place on 10 December in Ergneti, co-facilitated by the EUMM and OSCE. Participants exchanged information and views on a number of Administrative Boundary Line related incidents, including questions related to the course of the boundary, and crossing... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2479/ Contrary to recent press reports, the EU Monitoring Mission is not in a position to confirm or deny any involvement by the Russian Federation in the recent series of explosions in Georgia. The Mission has not conducted an investigation into these events as it is not in its mandate... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2498/ Under UN chairmanship, the Georgian Government, the Russian and de facto Abkhaz authorities as well as the EUMM attended the twenty third IPRM meeting in Gali on Thursday 25 November. Participants exchanged information on a range of issues including the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Mr Gari Jopua... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2470/ On 25 November an EU Monitoring Mission patrol observed seven Russian and South Ossetian armed personnel accompanying three South Ossetian civilians performing measuring activities on the ground along the Administrative Boundary Line, close to the village of Ditsi. This is not the first time that such measuring... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2360/ On Friday 5 November His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG KCVO, joined the EU Monitoring Mission on a trip to Odzisi close to the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line. He was briefed before setting off about the role and work of the Mission. On arrival in... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2365/ On Sunday 7th of November, 16 students from the Tbilisi State University were able to follow an EUMM patrol to see for themselves the Mission in action. The students represented a range of faculties from law, journalism and sociology. Gathering early in the morning, they first visited the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2354/ On 31 October 2010, the tenth anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security took place. This document sparked a new way of thinking about the impact of conflict on women and their role in peace processes. The resolution highlights concerns regarding... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2351/ After an interruption of over one year, the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) for the South Ossetian theatre reconvened in Ergneti on 28th of October for the 7th meeting with the participation of officials from the government of Georgia, the South Ossetian de facto authorities and the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2346/ Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission made the following statement: "I welcome the removal of the Russian checkpoint in Perevi, Georgia, as announced at the 13th round of Geneva International Discussions on 14 October, and see... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2347/ On 14 October, the EUMM Field Office in Mtskheta joined the celebrations for the Mtskhetoba festival, a big event this year dedicated to the 1700 years since the construction of the town’s famous Svetistkhoveli Cathedral. EUMM monitors invited the local population to visit the EUMM stand located in... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2341/ Under the auspices of the UN, the Georgian Government, the Russian and de facto Abkhaz authorities as well as the EUMM attended the twenty first IPRM meeting in Gali on Friday 8 October. In a constructive and respectful manner, participants exchanged information with regard to the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2315/ In response to claims made on 29 September that “border demarcation works” have taken place in Kvemo Nikozi, Zemo Nikozi, Ditsi, Arbo and Kordi in the Shida Kartli region, the EU Monitoring Mission sent patrols to these villages and surrounding areas. EUMM monitors have spoken extensively with the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2312/ Two years ago, on 1 October 2008, the EU Monitoring Mission began its patrols, only two weeks after Foreign Ministers of the 27 EU Member States had agreed to deploy an unarmed civilian mission to Georgia to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire agreements which brought an end to... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2331/ On 28 September, the EUMM Field Office in Zugdidi invited school children living in villages in the vicinity of the Abkhaz Administrative Boundary Line as well as students of three schools in the town of Zugdidi to participate in a Children’s Activity Day. More than one hundred children aged... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2302/ The European Union Monitoring Mission is concerned about the potentially destabilising incident that occurred on 24 th September near Khurcha at the Abkhaz Administrative Boundary Line. Locals had reported that Russian Border Guards had detained a few people from a minibus and confiscated goods. Georgian Special Police officers... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/press_releases/2299/ On 15 September Colonel Jussi Saressalo started his functions as Deputy Head of Mission for the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia. Colonel Saressalo replaces General Gilles Janvier who has left the Mission after two years. “I thank General Janvier for his valuable and important contribution... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2296/ Representatives from the Georgian Government, the Russian and defacto Abkhaz authorities and the EUMM met on 14 September in Gali for the 20th meeting chaired by the UN under the auspices of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism. In a relaxed and businesslike atmosphere, participants discussed issues concerning... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2293/ In the context of their visit to Georgia, the OSCE Secretary General, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut and the Estonian Foreign Minister, Urmas Paet, met the EUMM Head of Mission, Ambassador Hansjörg Haber and participated in field visits to the IDP settlement of Tserovani and to different locations along the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2507/ On 1 September, Field Office Zugdidi launched delivering the EUMM Zugdidi Radio Show on radio ODISHI PLUS every Wednesday at 6 pm. Every edition contains a mixture of the recent general and EUMM news as well as interviews with EUMM staff members, persons involved in the peace... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2289/ On 23 August EUMM Field Office Mtskheta held a Gender Workshop for Georgian Armed Forces Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces personnel. A total of 29 people were present at the workshop at a venue in Mtskheta. The event began with a technical presentation on the framework of the... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2286/ On 12 August, the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia invited young inhabitants of the village of Koda in Tetsriskaro district to celebrate together the International Youth Day. The event was organised around the theme of the 2010 International Youth Day – ‘Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.’ This slogan well reflects... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2285/ The Council of the European Union adopted a decision extending the mandate of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia until 14 September 2011. EUMM was deployed and began its operations on 1 October 2008 as a result of the Six-Point agreement signed between President Medvedev and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2282/ During their visit to Georgia, the US Congressional Staff Members visited the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia on 4 August 2010. The delegation was briefed by the Head of EUMM, Ambassador Hansjörg Haber, on the role and everyday work of the Mission, its achievements and challenges as... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2258/ On 20 July, Georgian, de facto Abkhaz, Russian and EUMM representatives attended the 19th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting in Gali, under the auspices of the UN. In a constructive and businesslike atmosphere, participants exchanged and clarified information about recent incidents, including ones that appeared to... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2253/ During his two day visit to Georgia, the French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner visited a settlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the village of Koda, south west of the capital Tbilisi on 15 July. There he was able to meet and talk to a number of inhabitants about... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2246/ The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton joined the EU Monitoring Mission on 16 July on a visit to the Georgian check point at Odzisi to see for herself the situation on the administrative boundary line with South Ossetia. She was given an extensive... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2245/ On 15 July, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn, visited the EUMM Headquarters in Tbilisi. In the meeting with the Head of EUMM, Ambassador Hansjörg Haber, Foreign Minister Asselborn received a briefing on the structure, mandate and activities of the Mission as well as on its achievements and... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2244/ On 14-15 July, a delegation from the Subcommittee on Security and Defence (SEDE) of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs paid a visit to the EU Monitoring Mission Headquarters as well as to EUMM Field Offices Mtskheta and Gori. The delegation was chaired by MEP and Vice-Chairman... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2240/ On 13 July, the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, met Polish monitors and other members of staff of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. The meeting took place in Tbilisi during the Foreign Minister’s... http://eumm.eu/en/press_and_public_information/features/2239/ On 13 July, a senior delegation from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs visited EUMM and was welcomed by the EUMM Head of Mission, Ambassador Haber. Ambassador Haber thanked the delegation for the important contribution made to the Mission by the Dutch Government. He briefed the delegation...