103rd Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism meeting takes place in Ergneti

ERGNETI, 18 November 2021 — The 103^rd Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) convened today in Ergneti, co-facilitated by the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all necessary health precautions were followed at the meeting venue.

Participants discussed the impact of the closure of crossing points and other restrictions affecting the livelihoods of the conflict-affected population. They focused on the most recent security developments at the administrative boundary line (ABL), detention cases, the situation in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Annika Söder, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus, called on participants to apply a pragmatic and humanitarian approach during the upcoming holiday season. She stressed her appreciation of the participants’ commitment to engage in regular exchange in the IPRM format.

Kate Fearon, Deputy Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, further encouraged the participants to continue using the IPRM meetings, as well as the EUMM-managed Hotline, to exchange information and noted their importance for confidence-building.

The co-facilitators also stressed the importance of continued dialogue and called for mutually acceptable solutions that uphold humanitarian principles and human rights, and that respond positively to the needs of the conflict-affected population living on both sides of the ABL. They reiterated that they stand ready to support all efforts towards the resumption of greater freedom of movement. During the meeting, attention was drawn to the Women, Peace and Security agenda and how this could further be integrated into the IPRM format.

Participants agreed to plan for a subsequent meeting on 20 January 2022.