Press release 02 October 2008
Ministry for Foreign Affairs

An EU civilian observer mission was initiated in Georgia this morning.

On Tuesday 1st October the EU observer mission in Georgia began its field operations, in line with the EU's commitment to send a civilian observer mission by 1 October at the latest.

The operation involves about 200 civilian observers whose task is to observe, analyse and report on the parties' compliance with the ceasefire agreement and the subsequent agreements following the armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008.

As of today the Swedish component of the EU mission is patrolling the areas bordering on South Ossetia. German head of operations Hansjörg Haber was with the Swedish EU observer group during the day. Gerard Fischer, a Swede, has been appointed head of the mission's operational activities and stationed in Tbilisi.

The Swedish observers come from the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Swedish Rescue Services Agency and the National Police Board. The group consists of 29 people who will be responsible for heading a field office. In addition, Sweden will be sending IT and communications equipment and staff who will be responsible for the installation, set-up and maintenance of the mission's communications network.