Tbilisi, 15 March 2023 — Today, EUMM Head of Mission, Mr. Dimitrios Karabalis, hosted a delegation from the European External Action Service (EEAS) on a visit to the Odzisi crossing point.
In Odzisi, EUMM monitors briefed the EEAS delegation on the security situation and recent developments along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL). They underlined the continued difficulties local population on both sides of the ABL face, in particular with regard to the protracted closure of the Odzisi crossing point for regular cross-ABL traffic. EUMM monitors explained how the ongoing ‘borderisation‘ activities restrict the freedom of movement, for example when it comes to access to agricultural land, as well as to religious sites and graveyards. The EUMM Head of Mission, Mr. Karabalis, highlighted that EUMM together with the OSCE, continues to advocate for a full re-opening of crossing points along the South Ossetian ABL at the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM).
Following the ABL visit, the EEAS representatives expressed their appreciation of the briefings and analysis, thanking EUMM staff for their dedication and contribution to the stability in Georgia and the wider region.
