23/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 22 July, the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper) adopted a joint action which extends the EU monitoring mission (EUMM) in Georgia by one year as of mid-September. This decision should be confirmed by the forthcoming General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) on Monday 27 July. Ministers are also expected to discuss, on Monday, possible inclusion of third country observers in the mission, especially those of the United States whose participation in EUMM was requested this week by the Georgian authorities on the eve of US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Tbilissi. The point was briefly discussed by the Political and Security Committee, and the Swedish EU Presidency does not rule out the possibility, in time, of participation by third countries (when the mission was launched in October 2008, Turkey was also interested in taking part). At this stage, however, no official request for US observer participation has been sent to the EU. The US side states that consultation on the subject will be continued with the EU and Georgia. The presence of non-EU member states is “critical” for the region, an American source told EUROPE on Wednesday 22 July, stressing that Georgia “has been and remains an important friend of the United States”. (A.By./transl.jl)