News

On 11 June, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius paid an official visit to Georgia and the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) between Georgia and its breakaway region of Abkhazia. Together with representatives of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister visited one of the two crossing points that were closed this year – the Kurcha-Nabakevi pass – and the bridge over the Enguri River, which connects Abkhazia with the Georgian-controlled territory.

“The international community cannot forget that the conflict – the creeping annexation of Georgian regions – continues. Not only the fights  continue, but a significant part of Georgia’s territory is being cut off, which hits residents the hardest,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

In March, two crossing points were closed along the Administrative Boundary Line between Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia and the rest of Georgia. Thousands of the region’s inhabitants, including the most vulnerable populations, such as students, the elderly, and the sick, are affected adversely by the decision. The so-called Abkhaz ‘leadership’ is going to close another crossing point, leaving only one pass through the bridge over the Enguri River.

Linkevičius expressed his support for the work of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia. “The situation looks rather calm and controlled from a distant perspective, which, for the most part, is namely a result of the effort of the mission that contributes to ensuring stability, enhancing mutual trust, and dealing with incidents. It is hard to imagine what the situation would be like without this international objective observer,” said Lithuania’s Foreign Minister.

The unarmed civilian monitoring mission – the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) – was established in September 2008. The EUMM’s mandate covers the entire territory of Georgia. However, Russian troops occupying Georgian territories have so far denied the access of EUMM to the territories under their control. The Lithuanian Ambassador Kęstutis Jankauskas has been the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia since January 2015.