EUMM says regrettably ‘impossible to complete’ IPRM discussions
The Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting in Ergneti was co-facilitated by Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia Erik Høeg and Special Representative for the South Caucasus of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Rudolf Michalka. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) said today’s Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting “was marked by a series of intense exchanges on the topic of Tsnelisi between participants”.
However, "regrettably it was impossible to complete discussions on all agenda points as the meeting was disrupted”.
Today's IPRM meeting has been disrupted as the Russian and Ossetian participants left in protest after the Georgian officials refused to dismantle the police checkpoint on the Georgia-controlled territory in the village of Chorchara in Khashuri Municipality, close to the occupied village of Tsnelisi.
EUMM said, the Head of the Mission Erik Høeg “provided an overview of events” since the last IPRM meeting on July 18.
Høeg considers that the recent developments along the occupation line “had negatively impacted the overall security situation, in particular relating to the recent, highly-concerning occurrences in the Gugutiantkari and Tsnelisi areas”.
Very difficult IPRM meeting in Ergneti today, co-facilitated by #EUMM. Meeting disrupted due to disagreements on how to respond to developments in area of Tsnelisi at South Ossetian ABL See joint press release of the 95th meeting here: https://t.co/bgmvZkN2zJ pic.twitter.com/lILuJEBK7e
— Erik Hoeg (@erik_hoeg) August 29, 2019
The European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Toivo Klaar also shared his concerns over the developments along the ABL.
Very concerned about developments around Tsnelisi village and Chorchana forest. Important that today’s #IPRM is made full use of.
— Toivo Klaar (@ToivoKlaar) August 29, 2019
The co-facilitators of IPRM emphasised the importance of continuing dialogue in lowering of tensions and reminded participants to focus on the challenges of the conflict-affected population, EUMM reported.
They spoke of a number of instances where the EUMM managed hotline was used effectively and stressed the need "to keep exchanging information through all available communication channels, especially providing early warning of activities with a view to reducing tensions”.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has invited foreign diplomats to discuss the tense situation near the occupation line with the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali region, in Khashuri Municipality. The diplomats have convened in the foreign ministry as the 95th session of Incidents Prevention and Response Mechanism (IRPM) in Russia-occupied Ergneti village, attended by Georgian, Russian and so-called Ossetian government members fell apart today.
Russian occupation forces have appeared near the village of Chorchana, Khashuri Municipality today. The village is located in the vicinity of the Russia - occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region. The State Security Service of Georgia reports that military equipment of the occupation forces has been detected moving in the area.
Co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), who met with the Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani on Wednesday, have released a statement on the “borderisation” process near occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region.
The European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) told Agenda.ge that the de facto authorities of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region have confirmed the detention of eight people on the evening of August 17 and morning of August 18 near the village of Akhalubani, in Gori Municipality via the mission’s hotline.
De facto official of the Russia-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region, Egor Kochiev said the Georgian police checkpoint in the village of Chorchana in Khashuri Municipality, close to Tskhinvali should be dismantled by 6 a.m. Friday, August 30.
Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs releases a statement regarding the latest developments at the occupation line, close to the village Chorchana situated in the territory controlled by the government of Georgia.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses concern about mobilisation of military equipment and personnel by the occupation forces at the occupation line, close to the village Chorchana situated in the territory controlled by the government of Georgia,” reads the statement.
Politicians from the European Union have responded to the tense situation that arose yesterday in the village of Chorchana, near the Russia-occupied region of Tskhinvali, Georgia.
Member of the European Parliament and Polish politician Anna Fotyga said in her Twitter post yesterday that the threat of provocation and escalation is observed as Russian occupation and Ossetian forces have concentrated along the occupation line.
The members of the Georgian government and occupation forces of the de-facto Tskhinvali region and Russia have held a meeting amid tensions along the occupation line in the Russia-occupied village of Tsnelisi today.
After the three-hour meeting was over, the Georgian and Ossetian sides made different statements. Head of the Georgian Security Council Kakhaber Kemoklidze said the meeting participants were unanimous, saying the situation should be de-escalated, adding the meeting was held in a ‘constructive environment.’
The Georgian State Security Service has denied accusations put forward by de facto Tskhinvali that fire was opened on their unmanned aerial vehicle from Tbilisi-controlled area.
The OSCE Permanent Council has made a statement on recent developments in the occupied regions of Georgia on behalf of 15 countries. The United States Mission to OSCE, which "fully subscribes to the joint statement made by the Group of Friends of Georgia", released a separate statement as well in its "national capacity".
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has welcomed the appointment of Marek Szczygiel as new head of the European Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Georgia. Szczygiel, a long serving Polish diplomat, was officially appointed as the EUMM head earlier today.
Marek Szczygiel the new head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) to Georgia said he is “looking forward to working with the great and dedicated team” of the mission. Szczygiel, a long serving Polish diplomat, was officially appointed as the EUMM head earlier today.
The 96th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting will be held in Ergneti on July 30 in order to resume the dialogue to reduce tensions and prevent incidents along the South Ossetian/Tskhinvali Administrative Boundary Line.
The 99th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) held in Ergneti, close to the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region earlier today, focused on issues ‘pertaining to stabilisation and normalisation’, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) has announced.
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.