The mission is intended to help ensure the implementation of the six-point plan, negotiated by EU President Nicolas Sarkozy with the Russian and Georgian governments in September.
The most important point is the withdrawal of Russian troops from areas of Georgia proper occupied in August. The EU had EU to send more Georgian observers ...
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Russia Sets Up Black Sea Blockade as Caucasus War Widens ... hoped to get Moscow's forces to withdraw from the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as well, but Russian President Dmitry Medvedev categorically ruled that out.
European leaders were forced to accept less than they wanted.
"This is all really very incomplete, as I and everyone else know," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in late September. "But in the first instance it was for us a matter of getting a date for a Russian withdrawal from the parts of Georgia that border with Abkhazia and South Ossetia."
But statements like that underscore how little actual pressure Brussels can bring to bear on Moscow.
"Purely civilian" Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Haber will be overseeing the overseers The mission consists of police officers and civilian experts. They will not be given military escort, although they will be transported in armored SUVs.
The mission is directed by Germany's former ambassador to Lebanon, Hansjoerg Haber, who has been in Georgia since Sept. 20.
"This mission is purely civilian and that's our big challenge," Haber said. "It's operating in an area that's been marked by violence, looting and every kind of disturbance. I think the people are ready for someone who does not carry arms and isn't grim-looking, but who waves and smiles and is really just an observer."
Haber added that, thus far, his Russian counterparts have been cooperating.
"They seem business-like, and we've established contact with them," Haber said. "I'm sure we'll have an orderly handover with them."
Restricted Radius Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Russian troops have already moved out of towns like Gori But the observers taking up positions to monitor the Russo-Georgian ceasefire agreement will have to remain in "security zones" between the two countries' forces and will be stationed near the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and the towns of Poti, Gori and Zugdidi
Russian forces will not allow them free movement through Russia-controlled territory, the Interfax news agency reported, citing a Russian army spokesman.
To many European minds, that violates the ceasefire agreement, according to which EU observers were to keep tabs on force levels in the entire region -- an almost impossible task if not allowed into territory controlled by the Russian army.
Russia has recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, while the EU considers them parts of Georgia.
All parties to the ceasefire agreement "had agreed to [the restrictions]," the Russian army official was reported to have claimed.
So while the European mission won't do Georgia any harm, questions may be legitimately raised as to whether it will do any good.
(Deutsche Welle)
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