The EUMM, deployed since October 2008 to monitor the implementation of the EU-mediated Six Point Ceasefire Agreement, conducted its 60,000th Patrol in the Mtskheta area this morning, 20 October 2017.
The 60,000th EUMM Patrol was manned by Mission Monitors from Bulgaria, Portugal and Romania, supported by an interpreter and a medic (not in photo) from Georgia
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Reaching this high figure of 60,000 patrols is a sign of the EUs commitment to assisting and facilitating a safe and secure environment in Georgia, in particular along the Administrative Boundary Lines between the territory controlled by Georgia authorities and the two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, thus ensuring no return to hostilities.
The EUMM is an unarmed civilian Mission, and the only international monitoring presence on the ground. The Mission monitors and patrols 24 hours every day, 365 days of the year and regularly reports to EU member states and institutions in Brussels, Belgium.
EUMM patrols closely follow what is going on at the Administrative Boundary Lines and beyond within the remits of its mandate. Since deployment in 2008, the Mission has had full access to all territory controlled by Georgia authorities. The mandate authorises the Mission to have access to the whole of Georgia. However, the Mission has never had access to regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is something that the Mission seeks to have. If this were granted, the Mission would be able to patrol, monitor and report on the implementation of the Six Point Ceasefire Agreement on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Lines.
Our Monitors, representing 23 European Union Member States, carry out patrolling activities in an impartial and transparent manner. Patrolling is a key means of gathering information for the EUMM, and facilitates reporting ‘in real time’. Continuous patrolling also facilitates moving quickly to areas that might require the attention of a EUMM patrol. It also ensures the visibility of the EUMM. Many people affected by the conflict, especially along the Administrative Boundary Lines, welcome EUMM’s active presence and regular patrolling on the ground. The Mission assesses the security situation and any threats to stability, and monitors activities, which may be related to ‘borderisation’ – the installation of barriers along the Administrative Boundary Lines, detentions, freedom of movement, access to religious sites, communities, family, healthcare, education and livelihoods. The information we collect is also used to inform the co-chairs of the Geneva International Discussions.
Finally, the Mission hopes that its continual patrolling plans assist conflict-affected people along the Administrative Boundary Lines, to return to a more normal lifestyle.
The Mission ‘congratulates’ Field Office Mtskheta for its part in reaching the 60,000th patrol.
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On Friday 20 October 2017, Field Office Mtskheta launched the Mission’s 60,000th patrol. Since the European Union Monitoring Mission was deployed in Georgia in October 2008, an average of 18 patrols have been conducted each day
