Speakers of NB8 Parliaments discussed the situation in Georgia

Press release, 21 March 2017

Photo of the Parliament of Georgia

 

On 20 March 2017, Speakers of Parliaments of NB8 visited Shida Kartli, a region in Georgia, to discuss the situation of the administrative border. The Speakers met with the representatives of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in its Office in Gori. They also visited Khurvaleti, a village cut in two by a barbed wire fence, with the Russian military base in South Ossetia stationed behind the administrative border.

 

The EUMM in Gori is an unarmed civil mission deployed on September 2008, after the conclusion of a peace agreement mediated by the EU, which ended the war in Georgia. Since 2014, the mission has been led by Ambassador Kęstutis Jankauskas.

 

“The mission cooperates with all the conflicting parties in order to prevent the recurrence of an armed conflict. It also strives to ensure security of local residents in the territories bordering the administrative line between Georgia and the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The mission strives to contribute to ensuring safe and free movement of citizens residing near the administrative borderline with Abkhazia and South Ossetia so they can lead their daily lives without fear or any obstacles,” Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, noted.

 

The mission is authorised to act on the entire territory of Georgia. The de facto authorities of Abkhazia and South Ossetia deny the mission access to the territories under their control.

 

The NB8 (Nordic Baltic Eight) consists of eight Nordic and Baltic countries: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The NB8 countries have been engaged in regular cooperation in various fields and political levels since 1992. Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, visited Georgia on 19–22 March 2017 together with the Speakers of NB 8 Parliaments to cover the issues relevant to the region.

 

 

Dalia Vencevičienė, Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6016, mob. +370  698 42 071, e-mail: [email protected]