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 briefing by the Head of the EUMM Gori Field Office about the situation on the ground, the position regarding freedom of movement across the boundary line (ABL), and the work of the EUMM teams in the area.
She said that her visit in itself underlined the EU’s commitment to Georgia and she praised the work of the EUMM and its efforts to ensure security and stability in often difficult circumstances. She explained “My visit to Georgia had two purposes: first, the EU-Georgia Association Agreement talks and second, today I was given the possibility to come here and study the work of the EU Monitoring Mission. This is very important and I hope that all these problems will in future be solved by political means. "
High Representative Ashton continued her trip with a visit to the Internally Displaced People’s (IDPs) settlement at Tserovani where she was briefed about the general situation involving all IDPs across Georgia as well as the circumstances of those living at Tserovani. She was able to meet and speak to a 75 year old man from Akhalgori about his background and current living conditions. He has lived in the settlement since it was built.