The European Union delegation to Georgia on Tuesday 20 August called for an end to the erection of barbed wire fences by the de facto South Ossetian authorities, supported by Russian border guards, near the village of Gugutiantkari, under the authority of Tbilisi.
“It is essential that this work be stopped and that all concerned actively use the existing communication mechanisms - the Ergneti hotline and Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism” (IPRM) - which address issues affecting the daily lives of local populations, the delegation stressed in a statement.
The installation of these fences “hinders freedom of movement and will prevent people in the region from accessing orchards and water resources”, the EU delegation said in concern.
It recalled that the Union remained “committed to stabilisation and conflict resolution efforts” in Georgia, in particular by continuing its commitments as co-chair in the Geneva discussions, the efforts of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and crisis in Georgia (EUSR) and the permanent presence on the ground of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)