29.05 S. Ossetia Border Demarcation Unacceptable � EU Observers

TBILISI, May 29 (RIA Novosti) � Construction of barbed wire fences on the administrative border between Georgia and its breakaway republic of South Ossetia is unacceptable and may destabilize the situation in the region, EU observers said.

The head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), Ambassador Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, visited a stretch of the disputed border on Tuesday near the village of Ditsi, northwest of the town of Gori, following vehement protests by Georgia.

�EUMM has observed an increase in the construction of fences and obstacles, which has a negative impact on the local population,� Tyszkiewicz said. "This may prompt frustration and further protest, which could in turn lead to further destabilization in these sensitive areas.�

�The installation of fences impedes people�s livelihoods and divides families and communities. This is unacceptable,� he said.

Georgia lost control over one-fifth of its territory after South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another former republic within Georgia, broke away and were recognized by Moscow in the wake of a brief war with Russia in August 2008. Only a few other nations have recognized the two republics, which Tbilisi maintains are parts of its sovereign territory.