COEST delegation visits ABL and meets NGO representatives

On 2 December a delegation from The Council of the EU Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST), which handles all aspects of EU relations and cooperation with countries in Eastern Europe (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Russia and Ukraine) and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), visited EUMM. The visit to the Abkhaz theatre was hosted by Field Office Zugdidi while the group visiting the South Ossetian theatre was jointly received by Field Office Mtskheta and Field Office Gori.

The comprehensive programme of both groups started with the Mission briefings, presented by Head of EUMM Kęstutis Jankauskas in Zugdidi and by Deputy Head of Mission Erik Hoeeg in Mtskheta office. Both groups had a chance to familiarize themselves with the situation on the ground by visiting noteworthy locations at the Administrative Boundary Lines.

The group visiting Eastern part of EUMM’s area of responsibility took part in an information sharing meeting with Georgian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Tserovani, the largest settlement for internally displaced persons in Georgia. In addition, the group visiting Western Georgia had an opportunity to attend a meeting with local NGO representatives and get a thorough insight into social and economic problems of the conflict affected population.