101st Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting takes place in Ergneti

ERGNETI, 13 July 2021 — The 101^st meeting of the Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) convened today in Ergneti, co-facilitated by the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all necessary sanitary precautions continued to be followed at the meeting venue.

During the meeting, participants exchanged views and had constructive discussions on the impact of the prolonged closure of crossing points and other restrictions affecting the livelihoods of the conflict-affected population, on the most recent security developments at the administrative boundary line (ABL), on current detention cases, and on the consequences of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Participants agreed to follow up on the technical meeting on irrigation issues held on 8 July 2021.

The Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Ambassador Marek Szczygieł welcomed the participants’ engagement in the IPRM format as a key factor for stabilization and normalization on the ground. The co-facilitators also stressed the importance of continued dialogue and called for mutually acceptable solutions that uphold humanitarian principles and respond positively to the needs and human rights of the conflict-affected population. They reiterated that they stand ready to support all such efforts, which would pave the way for resuming freedom of movement and resolution of other issues such as irrigation water management. During the meeting, attention also focused on steps that could be taken by participants to address Women, Peace and Security issues in the IPRM format.

The participants agreed to plan for a subsequent meeting on 27 September 2021.