On 16 November 2017, the 82nd Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) meeting was held in Ergneti. Erik Hoeeg, Acting Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and Ambassador Guenther Baechler, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, co-facilitated the event.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the incidents and occurrences that have taken place since the previous IPRM meeting.
The security situation on the administrative boundary line (ABL) was discussed and was assessed as relatively stable. However, concerns were expressed over several specific cases of detention and shooting of firearms in the vicinity of the ABL.
The installation of new barbed wire, fences and signs, and the way these activities are affecting people residing close to the ABL were deliberated.
The importance of early notification, via the Hotline, on planned military events close to the ABL was once again stressed and the participants agreed on the list of activities to be notified.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to utilize the full potential of the IPRM format in order to identify concrete solutions to problems on the ground and expressed appreciation of the effectiveness of the Hotline in defusing possible tensions.
In the course of the meeting, the Acting Head of EUMM introduced the upcoming 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign and offered the IPRM participants to wear the White Ribbons, symbolising the pledge to never commit or condone violence against women.
The next IPRM meeting will take place on 19 December 2017.
Participants of the 82-nd IPRM meeting are gathering to discuss vital issues accumulated during the last month in sunny Ergneti village
Co-Chairmen of the 82nd IPRM meeting Ambassador
Guenther Baechler, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus and Erik Hoeeg, Acting Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (in the center), open the session in Ergneti
Acting
Head of EU Monitoring Mission Erik Hoeeg announces the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign and offers the 82-nd IPRM meeting participants to support the campaign by wearing White Ribbons
Participants of the 82-nd IPRM meeting wear White Ribbons to express their support to the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign in front of the discussions’ tent in Ergneti village