OSCE border monitors move into new premises at Sno Patrol Base

TBILISI, 12 July 2002 - After four months of repair and refurbishing works, the OSCE border monitors move into new patrol base facilities in the village of Sno, close to the Ingush section of the Georgian-Russian border, on Saturday.

The OSCE Mission to Georgia was established in December 1992 in response to armed conflicts in the country. In December 1999, the OSCE began monitoring movements across the 82-kilometre border between Georgia and the Chechen Republic of the Russian Federation. At the request of the Georgian government, the OSCE agreed in December 2001, to extend monitoring to the 58-km Ingush section of the Georgian-Russian border.

"OSCE border monitoring contributes significantly to the stability in this region", said Ambassador Jean-Michel Lacombe, Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia.

The leader of the Sno patrol base, Jerzey Len, expressed satisfaction with the new and modern facilities which will enhance the efficiency of the activities of the border monitors At present, 10 border monitors and 2 Georgian doctors are accommodated in the Sno patrol base.

The border monitors conduct patrols every day and during the night. On each patrol they are accompanied by a security detachment from the Georgian Border Guard.

Fifty-four border monitors from 23 countries operate from four bases: Shatili, Girevi, Omalo and Sno.