120th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting takes place in Ergneti

ERGNETI, 23 July 2024 – The 120th Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) was held in Ergneti today under the co-facilitation of the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, Viorel Moşanu, and the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Bettina Patricia Boughani.

The EUMM and OSCE co-facilitators commended the sustained commitment of the participants to the IPRM format.

IPRM participants actively engaged in a constructive dialogue, discussing challenges faced by the conflict-affected populations, in particular ‘borderisation’ activities, restrictions to their freedom of movement, as well as the security situation on the ground.

The EUMM and OSCE voiced their concern about the continued practice of detentions and advocated for the release of all detainees. The co-facilitators also reiterated their call for the full re-opening of crossing points, which would benefit women, men, children, and elderly people on both sides of the administrative boundary line.

The co-facilitators also encouraged constructive co-operation on the sharing of irrigation water and emphasized the importance of further advancing related work, particularly during the dry summer months.

IPRM participants highlighted the importance of the EUMM-managed Hotline to facilitate the timely exchange of accurate information.

The participants agreed to convene the next regular IPRM meeting on 12 September 2024.