Mr Haber also informed about principal challenges faced by the observers, including a limited access to Georgia's separatist regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as well as the strained security situation along the administrative border. "Since the closure of the UN and OSCE missions in June this year, the EU Monitoring Mission is the only one that ensures international presence and provides objective information and situation assessment," noted Minister Riekstins.

After the meeting, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins visited the Gori regional office where both Latvian observers, Edgars Perijs and Janis Baltmanis, are currently positioned. Together with the observers, Minister Riekstins visited the administrative border with South Ossetia, in order to gain hands-on experience of the observers' daily tasks and the situation on the border.

The EU Monitoring Mission is operating in accordance with the decision passed by the EU Member States last September on basis of the Six Point Plan adopted in August 2008, as well as an additional agreement achieved in September.