On 18 January 2017, the 73rd meeting under the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) took place in Ergneti, co-facilitated by Kęstutis Jankauskas, the Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Guenther Baechler, the Special Repre¬sentative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus.
Participants discussed the security situation along the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL), which was assessed as stable and relatively calm. Several issues related to detentions were raised and discussed in detail including one case of long term detention.
Various practical issues were added to the agenda pertaining to the livelihood of the local people. Participants declared a willingness to cooperate and exchange information with regards to criminal activities which may affect both sides of the ABL.
The readiness of the participants to jointly address security concerns by effectively using the Hotline to manage incidents on the ground was appreciated by the co-facilitators. Participants pledged their commitment to early notification of military exercises in the vicinity of the ABL.
The next IPRM meeting will take place on 03 February 2017.
The discussion is in progress