Austrian Federal Council delegation visits occupation line in nGeorgia

The EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia on Thursday hosted a delegation from the Austrian Federal Council, led by Council President Claudia Arpa, for a visit to the occupation line at Georgia’s north-western, currently Russian-occupied Abkhazia region. 

 

Commencing at Field Office Zugdidi, the delegation received a “comprehensive update” on the current security and humanitarian conditions along the ABL. Subsequently, the visitors proceeded to the former crossing point at Nabakevi-Khurcha, where EUMM monitors provided insights into the adverse effects of the closure of the crossing point for regular cross-ABL traffic on the lives and livelihoods of the conflict-affected communities, EUMM Georgia said. 

 

Continuing their visit, the delegation advanced to the operational Enguri Bridge crossing point, where they “directly witnessed the vital significance of freedom of movement for the local population”, the mission added. 

 

At the end of the visit, the delegation members expressed their appreciation for the work of the women and men of EUMM as the only permanent monitoring presence of the ground. Currently, three Austrian monitors serve in EUMM.