Tbilisi, 11 July 2023 – Today, the EUMM Head of Operations, Mr. Brian Richard, hosted a German delegation led by the President of the Parliament of Germany, Mrs. Barbel Bas, on a visit to the Odzisi crossing point. The purpose of the visit was to learn about the security situation and recent developments along the South Ossetian Administrative Boundary Line (ABL).
Mrs. Bas expressed her particular interest in the livelihood of people along the ABL and efforts of EUMM in supporting confidence building measures, such as the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meetings in Ergneti and Mission-managed Hotline. EUMM Head of Operations described how these two mechanisms facilitate dialogue, defuse tension and help solve practical daily issues, which the conflict-affected population continues to face.
EUMM monitors briefed the German delegation on the challenges faced by the local population on both sides of the ABL, including the closure of the Odzisi crossing point for regular cross-ABL traffic and the impact of ‘borderisation’ activities on freedom of movement.
Following the visit, the representatives of the German
Bundestag expressed gratitude for the briefings and assessments provided by the EUMM monitors. They commended the dedication and contribution of EUMM to promoting stability and security in Georgia and the wider region.
Twenty-five German staff members currently work in EUMM.
