Tbilisi, 30 March 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zbigniew Rau, visited today parts of the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with South Ossetia near Odzisi, with the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Ambassador Marek Szczygieł. Foreign Minister Rau was accompanied by Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Ambassador Viorel Moşanu, the Special Envoy of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Polish Ambassador to Montenegro Artur Dmochowski, and Polish Ambassador to Georgia Mariusz Maszkiewicz.
During the visit, EUMM Head of Mission informed the Delegation about the most recent security and humanitarian developments along the ABL, and their impact on the daily life and human rights of conflict-affected communities. In this regard, he noted that the Odzisi crossing point has now been closed for over two and a half years and stressed the challenges that this poses for the local population, including in terms of access to education, healthcare, property, or religious sites. He underlined close co-operation between EUMM and OSCE as co-facilitators of the Ergneti IPRM.
Foreign Minister Rau used the opportunity of his visit to thank the Mission for its continued contribution to stability throughout Georgia and the wider region, as the only international monitoring presence on the ground.
Eighteen Polish nationals are currently serving in the Mission, which makes Poland fourth biggest contributor.
