On 4 July, His Excellency Mr Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council, visited the Mtskheta Field Office of the EU Monitoring Mission. He was accompanied by Ambassador Philip Dimitrov, the Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia and M. Phillipe Lefort, the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the conflict in Georgia.
Mr Van Rompuy was welcomed by the Head of EUMM, Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz and given a short briefing on the current priorities of the Mission and future challenges. He also had an opportunity to meet Field Office staff.
The European Council President, on a short visit to Georgia, in between visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan, said that the Mission was “most relevant” at the current time. He added that it was “very much making a difference” by its presence and had “high recognition in Brussels”. The Mission was “respected by all the countries to the conflict.” He explained that the overall security situation had improved and that Brussels was following the situation closely. He very much hoped that the position regarding the IPRM meetings in Gali could be resolved. Mr Van Rompuy stressed that it was “important you continue your positive monitoring” of the situation on the ground and that the Mission “played a central role” in EU activity in the region. Before leaving the Field Office, he passed on his gratitude for the important work that the Mission was doing.
After visiting the EUMM Field Office, Mr Van Rompuy took the opportunity to visit the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the centre of Mtskheta, where he and his colleagues were shown around this historic, religious site by representatives from the local authority.
(click on images for higher resolution)
Mr Van Rompuy was welcomed by the Head of EUMM, Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz and given a short briefing on the current priorities of the Mission and future challenges. He also had an opportunity to meet Field Office staff.
The European Council President, on a short visit to Georgia, in between visits to Armenia and Azerbaijan, said that the Mission was “most relevant” at the current time. He added that it was “very much making a difference” by its presence and had “high recognition in Brussels”. The Mission was “respected by all the countries to the conflict.” He explained that the overall security situation had improved and that Brussels was following the situation closely. He very much hoped that the position regarding the IPRM meetings in Gali could be resolved. Mr Van Rompuy stressed that it was “important you continue your positive monitoring” of the situation on the ground and that the Mission “played a central role” in EU activity in the region. Before leaving the Field Office, he passed on his gratitude for the important work that the Mission was doing.
After visiting the EUMM Field Office, Mr Van Rompuy took the opportunity to visit the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in the centre of Mtskheta, where he and his colleagues were shown around this historic, religious site by representatives from the local authority.
(click on images for higher resolution)