The Messenger, Georgia
Jan 24 2007
Increased EU involvement in conflict zones
By Diana Dundua
German Ambassador Patricia Flor
and EU diplomats Per Eklund and
Peter Semneby say the EU wants to
help build confidence between the
conflicting sides in Georgia
European Union officials concluded a trip to Georgia on January 22
which included visits with separatist authorities in breakaway South
Ossetia and Abkhazia. The delegation was exploring ways to extend the
EU Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan to help build bridges
between the sides in Georgia.
Head of the European Commission’s (EC) Delegation to Georgia and
Armenia HE Per Eklund, EU Special Representative for the South
Caucasus Peter Semneby and German Ambassador to Georgia HE (EU
presidency) Patricia Flor all participated in the visit headed by
Hugues Mingarelli, the European Commission Director for Eastern
Europe.
According to Eklund, one of the purposes of the mission’s visit was
to see what more the European Commission could do in the conflict
areas to assist conflict resolution and confidence-building measures.
The EU is one of the most active donors both in South Ossetia and
Abkhazia.
"We are already active in rehabilitation, the health and education
sectors, NGO support, and civil society support," Eklund stated at
the press conference on January 22.
During the mission’s visit, the participants met with OSCE and UNOMIG
representatives as well as government representatives in Tbilisi,
travelled to South Ossetia and Abkhazia and also met with the of the
de facto authorities and international NGOs in Abkhazia.
"The purpose was not to reinvent the wheel, because there are already
many EU instruments in place. The mission focused on developing and
building upon what the EU is already doing in Georgia. This includes
most importantly the European Neighbourhood Policy and the financial
instruments for supporting this policy. But it also includes for
example the border support team that has been in place in Georgia and
has been working here within the European Commission premises for
almost two years," stated Semneby adding, "The purpose is to extend
these programs, which are applying to Georgia, to Abkhazia and South
Ossetia in order to encourage contacts to increase confidence between
the parties."
The delegation only met with de facto Abkhazian officials of Sergey
Bagapsh’s government and breakaway South Ossetian officials of Eduard
Kokoity’s administration in South Ossetia. They did not meet with the
Dmitri Sanokoyev’s alternative government in South Ossetia, nor
travel to the seat of the Abkhaz government-in-exile in the Kodori
Gorge; however, Malkhaz Akishbaia, the head of the
government-in-exile was present at their Tbilisi meetings.
"None of the two alternatives [in South Ossetia] we consider
legitimate," Eklund said on January 22.
De facto Abkhazian foreign minister Sergey Shamba said after talks
with the EU delegation on January 18 that "despite disagreements in
political issues," the Abkhaz side considers EU-funded programs
"useful," Apsnypress news agency reported.
"The European Commission is financing several projects in Abkhazia.
But this does not mean that we reject our key interests and
independence," Shamba said, reports Civil Georgia.
He also said that Sokhumi wants to establish a dialogue and "direct
links with the European Union" without the mediation of Tbilisi.
"Abkhazia is a part of Europe and we have the right to integrate into
European society… I do not think that linking Abkhazia with Europe
will be effective through Georgia or through any other state. It is
necessary to establish direct ties," Shamba said.
German Ambassador HE Patricia Flor said at the press conference that
the EU supports Georgia’s territorial integrity within its
internationally recognized borders and at the same time it is
important to build bridges between the secessionist territories and
the rest of Georgia, stressing that it is vital to bring people
together.
Semneby explained that the mission’s findings would be discussed in
Brussels within the next few weeks and then concrete recommendations
would be worked out. The mission’s findings would include the areas
of civil society development, exchange programmes, economic
rehabilitation, infrastructure rehabilitation, issues related to
customs and trade as well as also confidence building measures.