Estonia Sending Two Observers to Georgia for Mission
20.09.2008
Estonia is sending two civil observers to Georgia as part of the European Union observation mission. The Estonians joining the mission, which begins next week, will begin working in the Poti region of Georgia.
Foreign Minister Urmas Paet stated that the European Union member states have been extremely active in recruiting for the observation mission to be sent to Georgia and realise the importance of the mission.
“Estonia was prepared to send nine observers with the observation mission, out of which two will go initially,” noted Foreign Minister Urmas Paet. “The readiness to contribute to the mission was just as great in other EU nations, so that there were far more candidates for the mission than positions to fill.”
The assignment of the civil mission, which is made up of 240 observers from 22 European Union member states, is to observe the situation in the conflict regions in Georgia affected by military actions and to monitor the fulfilment of the six-point cease-fire agreement in all areas of Georgia’s territory, including Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The mandate for the European Union observation mission has been given for 12 months, from 1 October this year to 20 September 2009. The mission will be replenished in four months, when the mission period for the observers participating in the current and initial phase of the mission ends.
