On 12 November Toivo Klaar, the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia, hosted a meeting with civil society organisations working on conflict-related issues across Georgia.
Participants took stock of the current situation along the Administrative Boundary Lines with Abkhazia and South Ossetia and discussed ways in which to boost cooperation between the EUMM and civil society organisations. They welcomed the opportunity to meet with EUMM’s leadership, highlighting that this was the first meeting of this kind.
Civil society organisations unanimously stressed the importance of EUMM’s presence in the area. Some of them emphasised the need for further engagement at the grass-roots level. Generally, they all pointed out to the need to establish a two-way information exchange channel with EUMM, with regular feedback from the mission.
“Today we have identified many avenues for cooperation,” said the Head of EUMM at the end of an animated discussion that lasted over two hours. “There are many ways in which we establish synergies such as to enhance our respective effectiveness. We need to maintain today’s momentum and establish a regular format for future meetings and information exchange channels.”
Participants came from a wide array of non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and associations, namely Bridge of Friendship Kartlosi, Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA), Union of Wives of Invalids and Lost Warriors, Association Peaceful and Business, Institute for the Study of Nationalism and Conflict (ISNC), Caucasian House, IDP Women’s Association CONSENT, Union of Teacher’s ‘Education and Universe’, International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN), Saferworld, International Crisis Group (ICG), Danish Refugee Council and Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR).
