Observers monitor Georgia-Russia ceasefire
EU observers, including four Irish personnel, will begin monitoring a ceasefire between Georgia and Russia in the former Soviet state today.
In August, Russian troops entered Georgia to thwart Tbilisi-backed forces trying to regain control of the South Ossetia region from pro-Moscow separatists.
The five-day Russian offensive strained diplomatic relations between Russia and the US to a level not seen since the Cold War era.
The Irish contingent in the 200-member group will comprise two retired Defence Forces personnel, an academic and a Russian-speaking expert on the region.
The mission, which was agreed between EU presidents France and Russia, has a budget of €35m and a year-long timeframe.
A total of 22 EU member states contributed personnel to the mission.
A member of Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps was deployed to Georgia last month to work as a logistics officer with NGOs.
